Itanagar: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) has submitted a 13-point memorandum to the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, calling for significant legal and constitutional reforms to secure the rights of the state's indigenous communities. The union, acting as a representative for local interests, highlighted concerns spanning land ownership, identity, and socio-economic security.
A primary demand focuses on revising the state's government recruitment policy. AAPSU wants to abolish the 1990-era 80:20 ratio, which reserves 20 percent of government jobs for non-APST applicants, arguing it no longer aligns with current state realities. They also requested that the government mandate the submission of Permanent Resident Certificates and APST certificates for all competitive exams to close loopholes that allow for documentation fraud.
In the political arena, the union is pushing for amendments to the 1997 Arunachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act. This move follows the 2025 election of a non-APST candidate in the Changlang district, which the group cites as proof of a legislative gap that undermines indigenous representation. They propose making indigenous certification a mandatory qualification for those seeking to run for office.
The memorandum also addresses broader constitutional and territorial issues. AAPSU urged for a re-amendment of Article 371(H) to better safeguard natural resources and customary laws. Regarding the Chakma-Hajong issue, the union continues to advocate for the resettlement of these groups outside the state. Furthermore, they called for the resolution of 52 remaining disputed villages along the Assam border and suggested building a dedicated corridor road to improve security and prevent future encroachments.
Comments