ITANAGAR : The Arunachal Frontier Tribal Front (AFTF) has welcomed the state government’s decision to end the 80:20 recruitment system in government jobs, calling it the result of a long movement for greater protection of indigenous people in public employment.
AFTF chairman Tadak Nalo, however, said the decision should be implemented properly and extended to other areas, including promotions and the existing roster system.
Speaking to reporters at the Arunachal Press Club, Nalo said the government’s new eligibility conditions a valid Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) certificate, Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) and basic knowledge of an indigenous tribal language — addressed the concerns raised by the organisation over the earlier recruitment system.
Nalo defended the requirements against possible constitutional challenges, saying they should be considered in the context of Arunachal Pradesh’s tribal population and its constitutional safeguards. He referred to Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution while arguing that the new conditions were based on tribal status, permanent residency and indigenous-language proficiency rather than discrimination on prohibited grounds.
On public employment, Nalo cited Article 16(4), which allows the government to make provisions for reservation in favour of backward classes that are not adequately represented in government services. He also backed the indigenous-language requirement, saying it would help protect the state’s tribal languages. According to him, candidates would need basic proficiency in at least one indigenous language recognised by the state.
Nalo said similar language or eligibility provisions existed in other northeastern states and argued that if Arunachal’s new conditions were challenged in court, similar provisions elsewhere should also be examined under the same legal standards.
He traced the recent phase of the movement to the 2021 Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Combined Competitive Examination (APPSCCE), following which, he said, the demand against the 80:20 system gained momentum.
The AFTF subsequently raised the issue with the government several times, with Nalo saying the latest decision came after nearly five years of continued efforts.
He thanked the people of Arunachal Pradesh, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), the former All Nyishi Students’ Union (ANSU) team and AFTF members for supporting the campaign.
While welcoming the government’s decision, Nalo said the reform should not stop with recruitment. He called for the policy to be extended to promotions and urged the government to review the existing roster system.
