UAIPF demands Arunachal govt withdraw recent announcement to

Hundreds of activists under the banner of United Arunachal Indigenous Peoples Forum (UAIPF) Thursday staged a protest rally here demanding the state government to withdraw its recent announcement to grant PRC to non-tribal communities in Namsai and Changlang districts.

The Arunachal Pradesh governments decision to grant permanent residency certificate (PRC) to six non-tribal communities along with people from Gorkha community residing in both the districts had evoked strong resentments among various community based organisations (CBOs) including students bodies of the state.

The activists demanded that the state government withdraw the statements made by Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein for granting PRC to non-Arunachalees residing at Lekang in Namsai district and Vijoynagar in Changlang district.

The forum also demanded the state government to strengthen the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act 1873 for better and stronger protective measures for the welfare of the indigenous people of the state.

It also demanded for maintaining transparency in the Joint High Powered Committee by including more members from community based organisations.

The state government had constituted the committee under Environment and Forest Minister Nabam Rebia to study the issue and to submit its report to the government for further action.