ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Aug 19: Mixed responses could be seen during the  Consultative Meeting of CBOs and students organizations  held today to discuss   the demand for Autonomous region and Constitutional safeguards for tribal people of Arunachal Pradesh.
During the daylong meeting chaired by the Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, heads of various community based organizations and students organizations presented their views, claims & objections related to separate Autonomous Region. The Committee headed by the DCM as the Chairman has seven other Cabinet Ministers as its members namely, Bamang Felix, Alo Libang, Tumke Bagra, Mama Natung, Tage Taki, Taba Tedir, Nakap Nalo and Kaling Tayeng, Commissioner (Home) as the Member Secretary.
 Most of the representatives from West Kameng and Tawang region briefed the house and presented their views to substantiate  their reason behind the demand for separate Autonomous Region. Representatives of Tirap, Changlang & Longding region also elaborated the challenges and need for separate Autonomous Region. However, many CBOs from rest of Arunachal objected to the demands and cautioned to place similar demands for Autonomous region in their respective districts.
Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum (AITF) vice president (East), Getam Borang while opposing the demand for mon autonomous region (MAR) and patkai autonomous region (PAC), said that the state government should rather work for inclusion in 6th schedule of Indian Constitution and Article 371 (A). AITF in its memorandum urged the Chief Minister to deter  demands of Autonomous Region and work on bringing the state under Sixth Schedule  and  constitutional amendment of statehood act from  371(H) to 371(A),371(G) .
Apex students body All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) has categorically rejected the proposal or demand for any separate Autonomous   Region. The students union also stressed to form high power committee to safeguard people’s rights on land, water and other state resources by including Article 371 (A) in the Article 371 (H).

Supporting the demand for PAC, Wancho Council said that, though the TCL region has DoTCL but the fund which is provided under the department is lapsable.
“We are the people who are facing the real problems of underground elements and other development aspects at the ground level,” the chief of WC said, adding that one of the reasons for the autonomous region demand is also to curb youths from joining  UG elements.
Requesting the people of the state not to make the TLC a battle ground, Wancho chief said that the demand for autonomy is to safeguard the rights of the indigenous people. He said everyone has the right to claim in a democratic country like India.
 Elaborating the demands for Mon Autonomous Region, Chief of Monpa apex body, Monpa  Mimang Tshokpa (MMT) said that demands for separate region is not a divisive policy but an effort to safeguard the culture, tradition, customs of the six tribes residing in Tawang and  West Kameng region who only share 9% of the total population of the state.
Impressing the state government to include 6th schedule of Indian constitution to safeguard the tribals rights, the participants requested the cabinet ministers and  other legislators to discuss on the matter during the ensuing state legislative assembly session.
Earlier, Additional Advocate General Kardak Ete highlighted the laws relating to safeguarding Arunachal Pradesh specifically on BEFR Act 1873 and Chin Hill Regulations 1896. He also explained the provisions of the 6th schedule of Indian Constitution.
 Meanwhile, Chairman of the meeting, DCM Chowna Mein in his concluding remarks has assured the house to submit the report to the Chief Minister for his consent and decision to act on the report.
 In the meeting, members of various Community Based Organizations and Student Bodies namely, All Indigenous Tribes Forum, Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union, Wancho Council, Nocte Chief Council, Nocte Welfare Forum (NWF), Tangsa Literature & Cultural Development Society(TLCDS), All Tutsa Welfare Society(ATWS), Tai Khamti-Singpho Council (TKSC), Mishmi Welfare Society (MWS), Kamba Welfare Society (KWS), Adi Baane Kebang (ABK), Galo Welfare Society (GWS), Tagin Cultural Society (TGS), Tanw Supun-Dukun (TSD), All Nyishi Student’ Union (ANSU), Sajolang Elite Society (SES), Aka Elite Society (AES), All Bogun-Khowa Society (ABKS), Sherdukpen Employees Welfare Association (SEWA), Sartang Welfare Society (SWS) and Monpa Mimang Tshokpa (MMT) have participated and submitted their views either in oral or written form. With DCM media cell inputs

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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