Arunachal will set up separate ILP dept to bolster tribal rights protection: Khandu

PTI

ITANAGAR, May 27: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Wednesday announced that the state government would create a separate department dedicated to the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to strengthen its enforcement and safeguard indigenous tribal rights.

The decision was taken during a seven-hour-long high-level consultative meeting attended by student bodies, community-based organisations (CBOs), legal experts, political parties and civil society groups to deliberate on issues related to indigenous rights, ILP enforcement and demands raised by the Arunachal Pradesh ST Bachao Andolan Committee (APSTBAC).

Describing the deliberations as one of the most extensive discussions held on the future of the state and its indigenous communities, Khandu said the government remained committed to protecting the identity, demographic security and constitutional rights of Arunachal Pradesh’s tribal population. “All community-based organisations, student bodies, representatives of political parties and other stakeholders attended the consultative meeting and shared their concerns and suggestions,” Khandu told reporters after the meeting.

Asked about the issue of illegal religious structures, he said the government would take action against all illegal mosques in the state. He said directions has already been issued to the chief secretary to prepare a detailed report on such structures across the state for further action.

Khandu said the government has accepted in principle all four demands submitted by APSTBAC, terming them “genuine”.

The demands included stronger protection of indigenous tribal rights, action against illegal immigrants, strict implementation of the ILP system and opposition to granting Scheduled Tribe status to non-tribal communities.

Seven-member delegations from the Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum (AITF), the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), APSTBAC and legal experts were invited for a follow-up meeting on May 29 to prepare a roadmap on the issues discussed.

The developments come against the backdrop of a 36-hour bandh called by APSTBAC from May 14 over the “Arunachal Pradesh Inner Line Permit Guidelines, 2026”.