YUPIA, Dec 7: Papum Pare Deputy Commissioner Tai Kaye held a developmental meeting with gaon burahs and panchayat representatives of Tarasso Mikir, Balijan Mikir, Hollongi Mikir, Kokila Mikir, and Chessa Mikir on Thursday in connection with grievances of the five villages.
The DC highlighted developmental schemes and incentives provided by the state and central governments, which are provided to Mikir (Karbi) villages at par with other villages of Arunachal Pradesh.
He reiterated that the Mikirs (Karbis) are Arunachalees under the administrative jurisdiction of the Arunachal Pradesh government, and that PRC is issued to them in their respective village jurisdiction, like to other villagers in the state, along with land possession certificates, when applied for.
In response to the matter of issuing Schedule Tribe certificates to them, the DC said that issuance of ST certificates was discontinued when ‘Mikir’ was amended as ‘Karbi’ for Mikirs of Assam.
“Mikirs of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Meghalaya are still Mikirs and not Karbis, except in Assam,” he said.
The Mikirs are ST in Arunachal Pradesh under the provision of the ST Amendment Act, 1950, and are eligible for any facility in Arunachal Pradesh. (DIPRO)
