ITANAGAR, July 7: In a significant development following sustained demand from the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), the Government of Arunachal Pradesh has constituted a high-level committee to examine the feasibility of abolishing the existing 80:20 reservation ratio in competitive recruitment and making Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) and Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) Certificate mandatory for all competitive recruitment processes.
The decision comes after AAPSU, led by its President Meje Taku, submitted a 13-point memorandum to Chief Minister Pema Khandu on June 2, in which recruitment reforms, including the reservation policy and mandatory PRC/APST requirements, featured among the key demands. More recently, the union served the state government with a seven-day ultimatum, seeking a clear response on the status of its demands.
According to the government order issued on July 6, the committee will be chaired by Industries, Skill Development, Labour & Employment Minister Nyato Dukam and Principal Secretary (PWD/Home) , Secretary (Law) , Secretary (Personnel) , Secretary (SJETA) as Members, and and Joint Secretary (Administrative Reforms & Training), will serve as Member Secretary.
Significantly, the order provides that the AAPSU President, or his representative, will be associated as a Special Invitee during the committee’s hearings, acknowledging the union’s role in raising the issue through its memorandum.
The committee has been tasked with examining:
The feasibility and methodology for abolishing the 80:20 reservation ratio.
Constitutional and legal provisions governing reservation and the applicability of PRC in government recruitment.
Recruitment and PRC systems followed in neighbouring states such as Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur.
Recommendations of the earlier High-Level Committee and the opinion of the Advocate General.
The existing criteria for issuance of PRCs in Arunachal Pradesh.
The committee has been directed to submit its report to the government within two months. The notification was issued with the approval of the Chief Secretary Manish Kumar Gupta, IAS.
