ITANAGAR, Aug 30: Reiterating its demand to scrap the state cabinet’s recent decision to implement the Centre’s Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy (TRP) 2014 in Arunachal Pradesh, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) called for convening a meeting on the issue.
The AAPSU stated that the decision to implement the policy overrode the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations Act of 1873 and the government should have taken opinions from various sections of the people, NGOs, students’ community and all other stakeholders before taking a decision on such a sensitive issue, which would have direct effect on the socio-economic condition and demography of the state.
The AAPSU also reiterated that the implementation of the policy in states like Himachal, Uttarkhand and Karnataka cannot be compared with Arunachal Pradesh, where movement and various other activities of the people from rest of the country are regulated as per Bengal Frontier Regulation Act, 1873.
“There are people such as Chakmas and Hajongs, Nepalese, Bangaladeshis, who are residing in the state, and adoption of such policy would invite similar demands from those communities,” the AAPSU said.
Any policy which hampers the socio-economic or cultural status of the people should not be introduced in the state and the government must give priority to the interest and welfare of the people, said AAPSU President Hawa Bagang.
Echoing similar sentiments, the All Abo-Tani Clan Student Union (AACSU) also urged the state government to revoke the state cabinet’s recent decision to implement the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy, 2014 and creation of 100 posts of Bodhi language teachers.
In a release on Wednesday, the AACSU strongly opposed the state cabinet’s decision saying that it was taken without prior consultation and deliberation with the people of Arunachal.
Terming the policy as detrimental to the demography of the state, the union urged the state government to immediately revoke the said cabinet decision against Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy, 2014 and create posts of Tani Lipi teachers in every government schools instead of 100 Bodhi language teachers.
