ITANAGAR, Jan 28: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), pursuing its demand relating to the offspring issue in Arunachal Pradesh through enactment of an appropriate legislation, has once more reminded the state government to table the matter in the coming budget session of State Assembly.
Through a press release issued today, AAPSU said that although they had been consistent with their demand since their State Level Consultative meeting with all Community Based Organisations held in September 2018 last to bring into force an appropriate law on the issue of children of APST Mother and Non-APST Father enjoying full benefits as an APST, the matter still has not been taken up seriously by the state government. 
AAPSU General Secretary Tobom Dai stated that keeping in view the offspring irregularity is becoming a threat to the indigenous population of the state, the union had apprised the state government on several occasions and reiterated their demand for an urgent legislation to regulate the matter. Besides urging to constitute an Empowered Study Group to study the matter and fix quantum of punishments for those issuing/certifying APST statuses to such individuals and other important aspects related to it, AAPSU also drew attention on numerous cases of such offsprings  availing APST and other benefits exclusively meant for the indigenous communities of Arunachal Pradesh through its representations to the state government. 
Highlighting the modus operandi followed by certain sections of non-local businessmen with regard to land holding and other subject matters in the state, the union in its letter categorically wrote, “After marrying local women, these people purchase land and other movable/ immovable assets in their wives’ name. These wives surprisingly never change and adopt their husband’s surname. In case their son/daughter is married again to a local, the entire property is then transferred to their APST daughter/son-in-law. This vicious circle has been going on in numerous parts of the state.”

To put to an end to this growing irregularity, which is taking shape of a menace and slowly destabilising the socio-cultural fabric of the state, AAPSU has called for a concrete mechanism to be put in place through appropriate law to safeguard the lives of the indigenous people in the long run. It also stated that the offspring irregularity is akin to the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as majority of the kith and kin continue to reside in the state and illegally obtain necessary certificates which is detrimental to the state’s demography in the long run.
AAPSU President  Hawa Bagang stated that people are hopeful that state government will take up the matter in coming budget session since the Chief Minister himself had categorically assured their delegation in December last that it will be tabled in this budget session. If the matter is not tabled in coming budget session as assured, AAPSU will be compelled to go for democratic means of protests, the release stated. AAPSU PR

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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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