More opposition against adoption of Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy Act in Arunachal Pradesh

By Lobsang Tenchoe

DHARAMSALA, August 24: The Arunachal Pradesh state government’s decision of adopting the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy Act has met with more opposition from All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) and NEFA Indigenous Human Rights Organization (NIHRO).

After the Arunachal Civil Society (ACS) condemned the state government’s decision yesterday and called it an injustice towards the indigenous tribes of the state, AAPSU and NIHRO followed suit and called for the decision to be revoked, reports northeasttoday.in.

AAPSU condemned the state government’s adoption of the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy Act as a decision taken in haste. While claiming that the implementation of the policy may have far reaching ramifications in the days to come for the indigenous populace of the state in terms of livelihood and demography, APPSU said it may also put to stake the standing regulation like the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act of 1873.

The Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy Act has so far been adopted in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarkhand and Karnataka without any opposition, but the President of the AAPSU begs to differ.

“Though states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand did not oppose the settlement of Tibetan refugees in their respective states and went ahead with the policy, the matter is different in the case of Arunachal Pradesh,” the report quoted AAPSU President as saying.

The Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy Act was formalized by the Central government in 2014.