Offspring issue: AAPSU to hold statewide protest on Oct 05

Itanagar: The All Arunachal Pradesh Student’s Union (AAPSU) has announced to organize a protest rally at Itanagar and stage dharnas outside the offices of deputy commissioners across the state on October 05 over “the government’s lackadaisical attitude towards the ‘offspring’ issue”.

The decision was taken in an emergency meeting of the AAPSU held here under the chairmanship of union president Hawa Bagang, a statement from the union said on Thursday.

“During the meeting, the house unanimously condemned the cancellation of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meeting which was supposed to be held on September 29. The members present also took serious exception to the lackadaisical attitude, inordinate delay and dilly dallying tactics adopted by the department of SJETA in coming out with a draft of the proposed legislation on the offspring issue as demanded by the AAPSU since 2018,” the statement said.  

The rally and dharna, the AAPSU said, is being organized to register its strong protest against the state government.

The AAPSU has been demanding a permanent solution to the matter of the offspring of an Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) woman and a non-APST man enjoying ST benefits in the state.

The union had earlier this month rejected the draft provided by the Secretary of Social Justice Empowerment & Tribal Affairs (SJETA) in the matter while reasoning that “it had nothing for the protection of indigenous people.”

The AAPSU had also served a two-week ultimatum for correction after which a meeting was supposed to be held on September 29.

The meeting has now been reportedly scheduled for October 08.