Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu pledged to collaboratively address issues concerning indigenous tribal rights, demographic worries, Inner Line Permit (ILP) regulation, and tribal affairs. At a significant consultative meeting in Niti Vihar, Khandu termed the discussions as historic, involving key stakeholders like community-based organizations, student bodies, legal experts, and political leaders. The prolonged meeting, lasting over seven hours, saw participation from various groups, including the Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum and the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union.
Khandu highlighted the broader national challenge of illegal immigration, demographic shifts, and threats to indigenous identity and cultural heritage. He referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2025 Independence Day speech, where concerns over demographic imbalance and illegal immigration were acknowledged. The Chief Minister revealed the formation of a national-level High-Level Committee on Demographic Change by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, emphasizing the state government’s acceptance of key demands, such as establishing a separate department to oversee the ILP system.
In response to calls for preserving indigenous tribal culture and countering demographic changes, Khandu approved the creation of a dedicated ILP Department, echoing sentiments expressed by local groups. He stressed the importance of local youth empowerment through skill development to reduce reliance on external labor, citing the success of tribal youths trained in vocational skills who completed projects at competitive costs. Khandu also announced the establishment of a high-level committee to further deliberate on the discussed issues and propose a way forward.
