Arunachal locals angry over Tibetan policy
THE FRONTIER STATE HAD IN 1959 WELCOMED HUNDREDS OF TIBETAN REFUGEES BESIDES THE 14TH DALAI LAMA WHO ESCAPED PERSECUTION BY CHINESE FORCES
Arunachal Pradesh government’s decision to implement a central rehabilitation policy for Tibetans has invited flak from NGOs representing indigenous communities.
The state cabinet, headed by chief minister Pema Khandu, had on August 12 given the nod to New Delhi’s Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy (TRP), 2014. Organisations such as All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) and Green Arunachal Foundation (GAF) are not happy with the government’s stand.
The frontier state, earlier known as North East Frontier Agency, had in 1959 welcomed hundreds of Tibetan refugees besides the 14th Dalai Lama who escaped persecution by Chinese armed forces.
According to the exiled Tibetan government’s 2009 census, India had 94,203 Tibetans across 45 settlements in 10 states.
The Himachal Pradesh government first formulated the TRP that said Tibetans may be issued relevant documents to undertake any economic activity and handle jobs in any field for which they are professionally qualified on February 13, 2015. The policy also makes them eligible for land leases. The decision did not face any opposition from the local people. Uttarakhand later adopted the TRP
But many in Arunachal Pradesh feel threatened by the provisions of TRP. AAPSU president Hawa Bagang said, “the state government took the decision to rehabilitate Tibetans in haste. Implementing the policy will have far-reaching ramifications for the indigenous peoples, affect the demography and threaten their livelihood.”
Demanding a rollback of the decision, GAF’s Takam Tatung asked the BJP government not to indulge in “anti-Arunachal activities” as rehabilitation of Tibetans could “rob locals of jobs reserved for them”.
CM Khandu sought to allay fears while resenting the opposition to TRP. “We have merely agreed to the policy in principle. It will be framed only after Arunachal comes up with its own rehabilitation policy, which will be made in consultation with all stakeholders. Our government will never give away any kind of rights to any refugees at the cost of the indigenous peoples,” Khandu said.