Guwahati, March 20: In a landmark decision, the Assam Cabinet has approved issuing Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs) to members of the Moran community living in Arunachal Pradesh. This move aims to address their long-standing exclusion from government benefits due to Arunachal Pradesh’s technical challenges in granting them PRCs.
Announcing the decision, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “The Arunachal Pradesh government faces certain legal constraints in issuing PRCs to the Moran community. As a result, they have been deprived of government schemes and opportunities. Today’s Cabinet decision ensures they can now access reserved benefits in Assam, including government jobs and admissions in medical colleges.”
Sarma said the historical significance of the move, recognizing the Moran community as one of Assam’s ancient groups.
When asked six other communities, including Deoris, Sonowal Kacharis, Adivasis, and Misings, who have been demanding similar recognition, the Chief Minister said the state government would consider their cases upon formal representation.
The decision comes despite a 2019 Joint High Power Committee (JHPC) recommendation to grant PRCs to six communities residing in Arunachal Pradesh’s Namsai and Changlang districts, which was rejected following protests from local Arunachali groups.
“From now the people of the community can apply for Assam government jobs. They can also seek admission for MBBS courses in state medical colleges. They will be entitled to get the reserved quota as prescribed for the Moraan community in the state,” Sarma said.
The Assam Cabinet also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving the long-awaited Namrup IV Fertilizer Plant. On March 19, the Union Cabinet, led by Modi, approved a ₹10,601 crore Brownfield Ammonia-Urea complex with an annual production capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tonnes. The project will be a joint venture, with 60% owned by the Centre and 40% by the state government.
Additionally, in a major education reform, the Cabinet approved the creation of headmaster posts in all primary schools with at least 50 students, strengthening school administration across the state.
