ITANAGAR: The decision to grant Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs) to non-tribal communities living in Namsai and Changlang districts has not gone down well with indigenous communities of the state.Deputy chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh Chowna Mein, while speaking to the media in Assam recently, announced that granting PRCs to non-tribals would be a New Year gift to them."We are not against granting PRCs to genuine non-tribals living in the state. But the announcement was made before the joint high-powered committee, headed by environment minister Nabam Rebia, is yet to submit its report," Taba Taku, chairperson of Arunachal Pradesh Abotani Community Conference, told the media here on Saturday."The state government had undermined the sentiments of the indigenous people of the state and without consulting them had announced to grant PRCs to the non-tribals which will bear negative impact," Taku added.Calling this an "appeasement" policy before the elections next year, Taku said, "When the community-based organisations and the state government are working on a framework for suitable solution to the issue, how did the deputy chief minister make the announcement without waiting for the committee's report?"The organisation said there is no mention about granting PRCs to non-tribals in the Statehood Act.Mein responded by saying that the government is working towards an "acceptable solution" to the impasse."We are waiting for the final report which will be submitted by the end of this month. The report will be placed before the cabinet and accordingly an acceptable solution will be hammered out. I made the announcement saying that it will be a new year gift for the people of the state as the government will definitely work out an amicable solution which will be acceptable to all," the deputy chief minister said.The PRC issue snowballed into a major crisis in the state in recent times with all community-based organizations, including students' organisations, opposing the move.A total of 300 to 400 households of non-tribal communities who have settled in Namsai and Changlang districts of the state for several decades are demanding PRCs. All together six non-tribal communities are residing in Lekang constituency under Namsai district, which Mein represents.

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