The Arunachal Pradesh Chakma Students’ Union (APCSU) has urgently appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking a waiver for the Residential Proof Certificate (RPC) requirement for Chakma and Hajong youth looking to join the Indian Army and paramilitary forces. In a letter dated July 23, the union expressed grave concern over what it termed a “critical issue affecting the future of our students and youth in Arunachal Pradesh.” They are asking the Ministry of Home Affairs to accept alternative documents instead of RPCs, which the state government has not issued since October 2022.
The letter underscores that the Chakma and Hajong communities were resettled in Arunachal Pradesh by the Government of India from 1964 to 1969 after fleeing religious persecution and displacement caused by the Kaptai Dam’s construction in what was then East Pakistan. Currently, the estimated population of these communities is around 65,000, with over 90% being Indian citizens by birth.
The APCSU stated, “These communities have faced systemic discrimination over decades, especially in access to state employment.” They added, “Many of our youth seek to serve the nation in the Indian Army and Central Armed Police Forces. They have the qualifications and the dedication, but are now blocked simply because they cannot produce a document the state has arbitrarily stopped issuing.”
The ban on issuing RPCs was implemented by the Arunachal Pradesh government in 2022 following pressure from the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU). Despite this, the RPC remains a crucial eligibility requirement for recruitment in defense and paramilitary services, as well as for admission into higher education institutions.
Along with the appeal, the student union included a copy of the state government’s cancellation order from October 27, 2022. They urged the Union Home Minister to personally intervene in the matter, emphasizing the need for justice and equal opportunity for Chakma and Hajong youth.
With this appeal, APCSU has joined the ongoing discussions about the treatment of the Chakma and Hajong communities in Arunachal Pradesh. The issues of their citizenship rights, access to employment, and dignity continue to ignite debates in the region.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/arunachal-pradesh/story/chakma-students-union-demands-amit-shah-to-waive-residential-proof-for-defence-jobs-1249360-2025-07-23?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-07-23 16:24:00
