In a significant move, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has sought identification of persons born to Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) mothers and non-APST fathers acquiring APST certificates and enjoying full benefits in the State.
The students’ body has sought the lists from community-based organizations and district students’ unions within two months’ time during a consultative meeting held in Itanagar on Saturday.
Disclosing this during an interacting with media persons at the Press Club on Sunday, AAPSU general secretary Tobom Dai said the union met with 49 community-based organizations of the State, as well as representatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Peoples’ Party of Arunachal.
The students’ body said they took their feedback on how to go about the issue, and decided to first identify and prepare a list of such persons.
After acquiring the lists, the union would pursue the matter with the State Government to bring up appropriate laws in the State Assembly, Dai informed.
While asserting that the issue has the support of the masses, AAPSU president Hawa Bagang informed that adoptees would also come under the purview of this matter.
He said it was a sensitive issue, and that listing was only the beginning and more consultations would be held with stakeholders to come up with a comprehensive and agreeable plan.
Meanwhile, the AAPSU informed that the second phase of its ‘Operation Clean Drive’ would also be held after meeting with the government.