ITANAGAR, Aug 28: The Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum (AITF) urged the state government to revoke the state cabinet’s recent decision to implement the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy, 2014 and create 100 Bodhi teachers posts.
A meeting was held in this connection, wherein the AITF members observed that the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy 2014, approved by the state cabinet is tantamount to recognition of the refugees at par with the indigenous tribal communities of the state and it would adversely affect the core interest of the indigenous population in job opportunities and other economic activities.
“Arunachal Pradesh cannot be compared with other states as even people from rest of the country are not allowed to settle in the state, own properties, trading licenses etc, as per the provisions under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873”, stated the AITF in a press communiqué.
The AITF further said that the cabinet decision was taken without prior consultation and deliberations with the stakeholders, especially when such policy decisions are detrimental to the demography of the state.
As per the 2011 census, the Tibetan refugee population in the state is more than 10,000, which has since then been escalated given our sparse indigenous population.
With regards to the decision of creation of 100 Bodhi language teachers post, AITF was of the opinion that the government should come out with a vivid state educational and language policy before taking such steps.
“There are many indigenous tribal dialects recognized and notified by the state government as third language in the state and therefore, any policy decision for recruitment of vernacular language teachers should be all inclusive with wider consultations with the indigenous tribes of the state,” added the press statement.
