Arunachal constitutes panel to examine reservation, PRC norms

Itanagar, Jul 7 (PTI): The Arunachal Pradesh government on Tuesday constituted a high-level committee to examine the feasibility of abolishing the existing 80:20 reservation ratio in state government jobs and making PRC and APST certificates mandatory for all competitive recruitment processes. The move comes in the backdrop of a memorandum submitted by the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) on June 2, seeking time-bound action on the issues. Under the current framework, 80 per cent of government posts are reserved exclusively for APST (Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe) candidates, while the remaining 20 per cent are open to other eligible candidates, for which tribals can also apply. An order issued by the chief secretary stated that the committee will be headed by Industries, Skill Development and Labour & Employment Minister Nyato Dukam. The government has asked the committee to submit its report within two months. The committee comprises the Principal Secretary (Home/PWD), Secretary (Law), Secretary (Personnel), Secretary (Social Justice, Empowerment and Tribal Affairs) and Joint Secretary (Administrative Reforms and Training) as members. The AAPSU president, or his representative, will participate in the committee's deliberations as a special invitee. The panel has been tasked with examining the constitutional and legal provisions relating to reservation and the applicability of Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) in government services. It will also study the recruitment systems followed in neighbouring states, including Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur, review the recommendations of an earlier high-level committee on the issue and examine the existing criteria for issuing PRCs in Arunachal Pradesh before submitting its recommendations. Welcoming the decision, AAPSU president Meje Taku said the constitution of the committee was the result of the students' union's sustained efforts. "This is a moment we have long awaited on behalf of the students and youth of our state. This is only the first step, and we will continue to engage with the government until these recommendations are translated into policy," he said in a statement here. Taku also said the state government has assured the union that the remaining demands contained in its memorandum, including the re-amendment of Article 371(H), resolution of the Chakma-Hajong issue, completion of the Assam-Arunachal boundary demarcation, enactment of a central anti-racism law, introduction of the Chief Minister's Research Fellowship for Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) PhD scholars, establishment of additional CUET examination centres and other welfare measures, are being taken up on priority by the respective departments. PTI UPL UPL MNB