The Arunachal Frontier Tribal Forum has called for the scrapping of the 80:20 ratio followed in recruitments conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission and the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board. The forum stated that the existing ratio in state civil services examinations has outlived its relevance, as unemployment has become widespread across the state.
The forum has also demanded mandatory submission of scheduled tribe and permanent resident certificates for all recruitments conducted by the recruiting agencies, in line with states such as Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Assam, where domicile certification is a prerequisite for recruitment eligibility.
To mobilise public support, the organisation has already started a signature campaign-cum-awareness programme on the issue, which is likely to travel to other parts of the state.
The recruiting agencies must respond to these demands and make necessary changes in accordance with constitutional norms. Policies that were relevant earlier may not necessarily remain relevant today.