Arunachal Tribal Students’ Union Demands Relocation of Moran Community After Assam’s PRC Decision

The All Arunachal Tribal Students’ Union (AATSU) has issued a strong call for the immediate relocation of the Moran community from Arunachal Pradesh, following a recent decision by the Assam government to grant Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs) to Morans living in the state. The move by Assam has sparked concerns among tribal groups in Arunachal, who argue that it threatens the region’s socio-cultural fabric and indigenous rights.

AATSU expressed apprehension over Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s announcement, which aims to provide PRCs to the Moran community, a group with a significant presence in Assam’s eastern districts and Arunachal’s Namsai area. The union contends that this decision could undermine the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, a critical safeguard for Arunachal’s tribal population under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873. They fear it may lead to increased migration and regional instability.

The organization has urged both the Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments to address the issue promptly, emphasizing the need to protect the state’s indigenous identity and territorial integrity. AATSU has called for dialogue to ensure that the rights of Arunachal’s tribal communities remain intact, warning that failure to act could disrupt peace in the region.

Local leaders and stakeholders are now looking to the state government for a response, as the debate over residency rights and indigenous protections intensifies in Northeast India.