Arunachal Pradesh to Establish New Department for Indigenous Rights

Arunachal Pradesh will create a dedicated department for the Inner Line Permit system to protect tribal rights. This decision follows extensive consultations with stakeholders on indigenous issues. The government also plans action against illegal structures and aims to address demands from the Arunachal Pradesh ST Bachao Andolan Committee.

The government of Arunachal Pradesh has announced the formation of a new department to oversee and enforce the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, designed to strengthen indigenous rights within the state. This decision came after a marathon seven-hour meeting involving student groups, community organizations, and legal and political experts.

Pema Khandu, chief architect of this initiative, emphasized that the discussions marked a critical step toward safeguarding the identity and constitutional rights of the state's tribal communities. In addition to the creation of the new department, the meeting addressed illegal religious structures, with plans to review and act against them. Khandu assured that the government would honor four principal demands raised by the Arunachal Pradesh ST Bachao Andolan Committee, including the robust implementation of the ILP system, tackling illegal immigration, and refuting Scheduled Tribe status for non-tribal groups.