ITANAGAR, 7 Jul: The Arunachal Pradesh government has constituted a six-member committee with Industries Minister Nyato Dukam as its chairman to examine the feasibility and methodology for the abolition of the 80:20 reservation ratio in state government recruitment, and for making permanent residence certificate (PRC) and APST certificate mandatory in all competitive recruitment processes.

According to an order issued by the chief secretary on 6 July, the home principal secretary, the law secretary, the personnel secretary, the SJETA secretary, and the AR&T joint secretary have been named as members, with the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) president or his representative to be associated as a special invitee for the hearings of the committee, ensuring direct representation of the indigenous student community in the deliberations.

The committee has been tasked with examining the constitutional and legal provisions governing reservation and applicability of PRC in government services, the systems prevailing in neighbouring states such as Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Manipur, the recommendations of the earlier high-level committee constituted on the matter, and the existing criteria for issuance of PRC in Arunachal.

The committee has been directed to submit its report to the government within two months.

Reacting to the development, AAPSU president Meje Taku described the constitution of the committee as a direct outcome of the union’s sustained advocacy.

“This is a moment we have long awaited on behalf of the students and youths of our state. We thank every member of AAPSU and every indigenous Arunachali who has stood behind this demand. This is a first step, and we will remain engaged, constructive, and vigilant until it becomes a concrete, implemented policy,” Taku said in a press statement.

 He further noted that the government has assured that the remaining demands raised in the memorandum, including re-amendment of Article 371 (H), resolution of the Chakma-Hajong issue, completion of the Assam-Arunachal boundary demarcation, central anti-racism legislation, the chief minister’s research fellowship for APST PhD scholars, additional CUET centres, and other social welfare measures are being taken up on priority by the respective departments.

The AAPSU had on Monday given the government a seven-day deadline to respond to its 13-point memorandum.