July 29, 2026 4:41 pm
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ONLINE AGE

(Online version of the Arunachal Age newspaper)

Author name: OnlineAge

Latest News, Popular News, State News

BBBP awareness camp held

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ANINI : An awareness camp under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) initiative was organised at Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS), Anini, to sensitise students and faculty on the protection, education, health and overall well-being of children, with special emphasis on the girl child. Resource persons included Anini District Child Protection Officer Dilip Linggi, advocate Oki Mihu and a Medical Officer from the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) of the Health Department. The speakers highlighted the objectives of the BBBP initiative and created awareness on key issues such as the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, prevention of child marriage and mental health. Students were encouraged to be aware of their rights and responsibilities and to seek timely support whenever required. As part of the programme, the Health Department conducted routine health screening of students to assess their general health and promote preventive healthcare. The programme concluded with Government Higher Secondary School Anini Principal Nalako Tamuk administering the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao pledge, followed by a vote of thanks proposed by One Stop Centre Anini Case Worker Lajo Milli.

REGIONAL

Mizoram CM for preserving indigenous craftsmanship, promoting market access for tribal artisans

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AIZAWL : Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Monday emphasised the need to preserve indigenous craftsmanship and promote better market access for tribal artisans. Inaugurating the week-long Zo Fair in Aizawl, Lalduhoma said the history and identity of the people of the North East have long been preserved through traditional attire, crafts and indigenous skills, even before they were recorded in written form. Jointly organised by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Mizoram Cooperation department, the fair brings together artisans from across the North East and different parts of Mizoram to showcase traditional handicrafts, handwoven textiles, bamboo products, forest produce and indigenous food items. The chief minister said that the products displayed at the fair reflect generations of inherited craftsmanship and cultural traditions. Lalduhoma noted that while modern technology has enabled mass production of goods, handcrafted products continue to require painstaking manual work. He urged artisans to take pride in their traditional skills and avoid undervaluing or abandoning them, saying growing appreciation from outside the region has created new market opportunities for indigenous products. These crafts, he said, are an integral part of the identity of the people and serve as a living record of their history and culture. The CM lauded the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, TRIFED and the departments involved for their efforts to conserve and promote tribal and forest-based products. Welcoming participants from outside Mizoram, Lalduhoma invited them to experience the state’s hospitality and interact with local communities beyond the fair. Rural Development and Administration Minister Lalnilawma, who attended the event, also said the cooperative movement has transformed economies in many parts of the world and expressed confidence that Mizoram could achieve similar success. Referring to the recent Horti Fair at Aizawl’s Lammual, he said that sales of around Rs 20 lakh were recorded in a single day, demonstrating the market potential of locally produced goods. He said that achieving the vision of ‘Viksit (developed) Mizoram 2047’ requires every village in the state to become self-reliant, and added that efforts in that direction have already begun. TRIFED Regional Manager (North East) P S Thuingaleng said that Mizoram’s Van Dhan Vikas Kendras are among the best-performing in the North East. He, however, stressed the need for improved product packaging to enhance marketability. The fair features 25 stalls, comprising 13 from various North Eastern states and 12 from Mizoram. Two stalls are dedicated to tribal cuisine, while the others display handicrafts, textiles, bamboo products, food items and natural produce. Organisers said the event is designed to facilitate direct interaction and trade between producers and buyers without intermediaries. (Source: PTI)    

REGIONAL

Raijor Dal MLAs walk out of Assam assembly, demand release of 2 arrested rights activists

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GUWAHATI : The two Raijor Dal legislators staged a walkout of the Assam Assembly on Monday to protest against the arrest of two rights activists. Midway during the Question Hour, party MLAs Akhil Gogoi and Mehboob Muktar stood up and demanded the release of the two apprehended activists, Pranab Doley and Aditya Rabha. Both the MLAs wore black clothes, while Gogoi displayed a placard with ‘Free Aditya Rabha, Pranab Doley’ written on it in Assamese. As Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass asked them to take their seats, the two Raijor Dal legislators walked out of the House in protest. Doley, who has been leading protests over various issues relating to indigenous people’s rights and proposed five-star hotels near Kaziranga National Park, was reportedly detained by police from Guwahati on Sunday. Rabha, also involved with the land rights movement, was apprehended last week in connection with alleged financial irregularities in a cooperative small savings bank. (Source: PTI)  

REGIONAL

1,679 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants repatriated from Assam in last 2 yrs: CM

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GUWAHATI : More than 1,600 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh have been repatriated from Assam in the last two years, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday. Replying to a question from AIUDF legislator Badruddin Ajmal, Sarma laid in the Assembly that the state follows the central government’s directives in the matter of citizenship, and enough safeguards have been ensured so that human rights violations do not take place while implementing laws in this regard. “A total of 1,679 illegal immigrants have been repatriated (deported/sent back/expelled) from Assam to Bangladesh in the last two years,” Sarma, who also holds the Home and Political Department, said. Sharing the list in the House, he said the repatriation took place between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2026, after identification of the illegal immigrants. While some of the illegal immigrants were ‘sent back’, others faced ‘expulsion’, while a few were returned to their home country through the process of ‘deportation’. Sarma said no identified illegal immigrant is repatriated if any appeal is pending in the High Court or the Supreme Court. Asked about the procedure followed by the government to ‘push back’ the infiltrators, the CM said that the subject of citizenship is a matter under the central government. The state government follows the existing provisions of law as well as the directions issued by the Centre from time to time while taking actions against illegal immigrants. The Assam government does not deal directly with any other foreign country, bypassing the Centre, he said. “The state government implements the provisions of law as well as directions issued by the Centre pertaining to the citizenship matter. While implementing such laws and directions, enough safeguards are put in place so that the human rights of an individual are not violated,” Sarma added. (Source: PTI)    

REGIONAL

Wildlife habitat restoration key to mitigate human-elephant conflict in Assam: Minister

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GUWAHATI : Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah on Monday stressed on wildlife habitat restoration for mitigating human-elephant conflict in the state. He said the state government was adopting short-term as well as long-term measures for restoring the natural habitat of the pachyderms, and urged the support of all stakeholders. Replying to a ‘Calling Attention’ motion by BJP legislator Padma Hazarika in the assembly, Baruah said it has been observed that wherever encroached forest area has been cleared, instances of elephants entering human habitation have come down. “Wherever we have been able to clear forest land of encroachment… we have found that human-elephant conflict has decreased there. It has happened in three to four places,” he said. The minister said that while the increase in population of elephants has been at a normal rate, the dwindling forest cover has led the pachyderms to venture into human habitation. Development activities along traditional elephant corridors and alleged torture of these animals in some bordering states have led to more elephants entering human habitations in Assam, even in areas where they were not spotted earlier, Baruah said. While forest restoration will be a priority long-term measure to mitigate the conflict, short-terms steps such as solar fencing, creation of waterholes inside forests, promotion of Assam lemon plantations as natural barriers, scientific evaluation of beekeeping as an elephant deterrent and better equipped Rapid Response Teams, among others, are also being pursued by the department, he said. “To address the issues of human-elephant conflict and monkey menace, we will be holding a meeting with the MLAs on July 15,” Baruah said. Earlier, raising the issue, Hazarika sought a scientific approach in tackling human-elephant conflict. (Source: PTI)                

Editorial

India–Australia ties come of age

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When Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched down in Melbourne on Wednesday evening, fresh from a warm reception in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, he was on an important leg of a three-nation Indo-Pacific tour. This is his third visit to Australia as Prime Minister — a frequency no Indian premier has matched — and it says something about how central Canberra has become to New Delhi’s calculus east of Singapore, defined by ‘Act East’ policy. At the third Australia-India Annual Summit, Modi and his host Anthony Albanese oversaw what officials describe as eighteen distinct outcomes: a Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation that upgrades the relationship with an Annual Defence Ministers’ Dialogue, a new maritime security roadmap, and — most striking — a commercial uranium supply agreement building on the 2014 Civil Nuclear Agreement, under which Australia has so far shipped uranium to India just once, in 2017, to feed India’s ambitious 100-gigawatt nuclear power goal. Talks on the long-pending Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement were formally accelerated, building on the 2022 Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement that was India’s first developed-country trade deal in a decade. Education, critical minerals, and cultural repatriation rounded out a genuinely wide canvas. Trade negotiators have set a target of AUD 100 billion in two-way commerce by 2030, roughly double current levels, and Thursday’s acceleration announcement gives that number a fighting chance.  For decades, India and Australia were bound loosely by cricket and Commonwealth ties rather than strategic convergence; the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, now six years old, has since matured from rhetoric into structure. A 2021 logistics agreement already lets warships use each other’s ports, and the new defence declaration reads less like an aspiration than a maintenance upgrade on an alliance-adjacent partnership. But it was not smooth sailing for the Indian Prime Minister. Rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, used the visit to press Canberra to raise India’s democratic backsliding, a criticism that has trailed Modi’s Australian visits since 2023. It was indeed a low point of the visit but was not allowed to overshadow the visit. Where does this leave the two countries? Well, the trajectory is unmistakably upward, but increasingly instrumental rather than sentimental. Both governments now speak the language of supply-chain security, critical minerals, and an “open, rules-based” Indo-Pacific. The Quad remains the scaffolding; bilateral deals are increasingly the substance built upon it. If the Jakarta leg was about breadth — reviving an old civilisational friendship into hard defence contracts like BrahMos — the Australia leg was about depth, converting decades of trade and strategic dialogue into binding commitments. The test now is delivery: whether CECA is actually concluded, whether uranium shipments follow the ink, and whether the partnership can absorb criticism without either side flinching. (Source: The Pioneer)

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Dukam withdraws remarks on 80:20 reservation after AAPSU ultimatum

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ITANAGAR : Information and Public Relations Minister Nyato Dukam on Sunday unconditionally withdrew his controversial remarks on the state’s 80:20 job reservation policy following a 12-hour ultimatum issued by the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), which had termed his earlier comments “immature and irresponsible.” Dukam, who also chairs the state government committee constituted to examine the demand for abolition of the existing reservation ratio, said his statement was made in good faith out of concern for protecting the constitutional safeguards available to the state’s youth. “The statement was given in good faith. If my comments have hurt anyone, I unconditionally withdraw them,” Dukam told reporters, adding that he remains committed to the welfare of the state. Seeking to defuse the controversy, the Minister said the committee is examining all legal, constitutional and social aspects of the issue before submitting its recommendations. He also announced that a team would soon visit Nagaland to study reservation models adopted there before finalising the committee’s report within the stipulated timeframe. The controversy erupted after Dukam recently cautioned that completely abolishing the 20 per cent reservation for non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (non-APST) candidates could invite legal challenges, potentially putting the state’s existing reservation framework at risk if struck down by the courts. Earlier on Saturday, AAPSU criticised the remarks as “immature and irresponsible” and demanded that Dukam clarify his stand and apologise within 12 hours. The union maintained that such comments were unbecoming of the chairman of a committee entrusted with reviewing the policy and argued that they created unnecessary fear and confusion over an issue of vital importance to the indigenous people of the state. It said the committee chairman was expected to remain neutral and refrain from expressing personal opinions before completing consultations with stakeholders. Rejecting Dukam’s apprehension, AAPSU asserted that Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution empower state governments to make special provisions for Scheduled Tribes, including reservation in public employment. It argued that Arunachal Pradesh, with its predominantly tribal population, is well within its constitutional authority to review the existing reservation ratio. AAPSU President Meje Taku said neighbouring Northeastern states have implemented similar reservation policies for decades without judicial interference and accused the Minister of creating unnecessary apprehension instead of providing legal clarity. “The abolition of the 80:20 ratio is a matter squarely within the powers of the state government, and no one should be allowed to create doubt about that for political convenience,” Taku had said. Reiterating that abolition of the 80:20 reservation ratio remains its foremost and non-negotiable demand, AAPSU urged the state government to ensure that the review committee carries out its mandate with fairness, diligence and impartiality.    

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ANSU demands action on alleged NERIST irregularities, sets seven-day ultimatum

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ITANAGAR :  The All Nyishi Students’ Union (ANSU) has served a seven-day ultimatum to the Union Ministry of Education, demanding immediate action over alleged administrative, financial and recruitment irregularities at the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), warning of an indefinite democratic agitation across Arunachal Pradesh if corrective measures are not initiated. In a memorandum addressed to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the union alleged that the premier technical institution has witnessed prolonged administrative instability under the present leadership, affecting governance, transparency and public confidence. It claimed the ministry had failed to act despite repeated representations and the submission of documentary evidence. ANSU urged the ministry to immediately relieve NERIST director Dr Narendranath S from office pending completion of an inquiry. It also sought implementation of the recommendations of a one-member inquiry committee constituted by the Ministry of Education in December 2025 to examine administrative and academic issues at the institute. The union alleged that minutes of meetings held with the institute’s administration in November 2025 and May 2026 contained resolutions relating to recruitment rules, administrative reforms and implementation of the inquiry committee’s findings, but claimed these decisions were either ignored or selectively implemented. It further alleged that certain administrative decisions were taken beyond the scope of the inquiry report. Raising concerns over financial management, ANSU alleged irregularities in the release of payments for civil works despite objections raised during inspections. It claimed payments were processed within an unusually short period and sought a detailed examination of the expenditure. The union also questioned the recruitment process for the post of Executive Engineer (Civil), alleging that the advertisement issued in June 2026 permitted recruitment through deputation or short-term contract despite approved recruitment rules prescribing 100 per cent direct recruitment. It contended that the move was contrary to recruitment norms and deprived eligible candidates of an opportunity to compete. ANSU further alleged that the institute had disregarded a Ministry of Education communication requiring adherence to approved recruitment rules and raised objections over the constitution of a Departmental Promotion Committee while issues relating to recruitment norms remained under examination. It also questioned the transfer of financial responsibilities from the Registrar to another officer, claiming the move was inconsistent with an earlier Board of Management resolution. The union appealed to the Centre to initiate disciplinary proceedings against officials found responsible after due inquiry, examine the legality of the recruitment process and restore transparency and accountability in the functioning of NERIST. It warned that failure to act within seven days would compel it to launch an indefinite peaceful democratic movement across the state.      

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NABARD celebrates 45th Foundation Day, highlights four decades of rural development in Arunachal

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ITANAGAR : The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Sunday celebrated its 45th Foundation Day, commemorating more than four decades of service to rural India while reaffirming its commitment to inclusive, resilient and sustainable rural development in Arunachal Pradesh. Established on July 12, 1982, NABARD has evolved from a rural credit institution into the country’s apex development financial institution for agriculture and rural development, combining finance, institution building, supervision, innovation and development interventions. In Arunachal Pradesh, NABARD has worked closely with the State Government, banks, cooperative institutions, civil society organisations and rural communities to strengthen infrastructure, agriculture, livelihoods and financial inclusion. Its interventions span rural roads and bridges, irrigation, drinking water, health and education infrastructure, tribal orchard development, farmer collectives, spring rejuvenation, women empowerment through Self-Help Groups (SHGs), promotion of indigenous products and market linkages. One of NABARD’s most significant contributions in the State has been through the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF). Under the scheme, NABARD has sanctioned 534 projects involving cumulative assistance of ₹5,116.46 crore for the Government of Arunachal Pradesh. The projects cover rural roads and bridges, irrigation, drinking water, flood protection, soil conservation, healthcare, educational institutions and other public infrastructure aimed at improving connectivity and enhancing the quality of life in remote areas. To strengthen rural credit, NABARD has extended refinance support to Arunachal Pradesh Rural Bank, sanctioning ₹109.56 crore for short-term agricultural loans and ₹86.05 crore for long-term agricultural credit. It also plays a key supervisory role over Regional Rural Banks and cooperative banks while preparing district-level Potential Linked Credit Plans and the State Focus Paper to guide rural credit planning. Financial inclusion remains a core focus of the institution. Through the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme, Joint Liability Groups, financial literacy initiatives, capacity building and digital financial inclusion, NABARD has supported wider access to formal banking services. It has extended ₹2,890.22 lakh for various financial inclusion initiatives in Arunachal Pradesh. Recognising the importance of collective farming, NABARD has promoted 17 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in the State, enabling farmers to aggregate produce, improve value addition, access institutional finance and strengthen market linkages. The institution has also expanded livelihood opportunities through its Tribal Development Fund, popularly known as WADI (TRIBES) projects. These initiatives support orchard-based livelihood development, intercropping, soil and water conservation, livestock development and community institution building, helping tribal households establish sustainable long-term income sources. To promote climate-resilient agriculture, NABARD is implementing the JIVA programme, encouraging natural farming practices through the use of Jeevamrit, Beejamrit, Ghanjeevamrit, biomass recycling and diversified cropping systems. The initiative seeks to improve soil health, reduce dependence on chemical inputs and enhance the resilience of farming systems. In the farm sector, NABARD has sanctioned assistance of ₹2,853.27 lakh for various development initiatives, including the adoption of digital technologies and Internet of Things (IoT)-based solutions to improve farm productivity and resource management. Addressing climate change and ecological challenges, NABARD is supporting springshed development, watershed management, biodiversity conservation, efficient water use and climate-resilient agriculture to strengthen water security and natural resource management across the Himalayan State. The institution has also played a significant role in promoting Geographical Indication (GI) products. With NABARD’s support, 18 products from Arunachal Pradesh have secured GI registration, while another 18 products are in the pipeline. Beyond registration, the institution is assisting producer groups in branding, quality assurance, packaging and market access to ensure greater economic benefits for farmers and artisans. To improve rural marketing, NABARD has supported Rural Haats, Rural Marts, exhibitions, buyer-seller meets and other marketing platforms that enable farmers, artisans, SHGs and producer groups to access wider markets. Recognising the growing importance of rural entrepreneurship, NABARD has sanctioned ₹963.78 lakh for off-farm sector development and ₹245.95 lakh for skill development and capacity-building programmes. These initiatives support rural youth and women in establishing enterprises in food processing, tailoring, handicrafts, bakery and other locally viable sectors. The institution has also strengthened the cooperative sector by supporting the computerisation of 14 Large-sized Multipurpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPS) in Arunachal Pradesh, alongside capacity building and governance reforms. Throughout its development initiatives, NABARD has placed women at the centre of rural transformation by promoting SHGs, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, livelihood programmes and market access, enabling greater financial independence and community participation. Highlighting its collaborative approach, NABARD said its work in Arunachal Pradesh has been anchored in partnerships with the State Government, banks, cooperative institutions, universities, research organisations, non-governmental organisations, FPOs, SHGs and community-based organisations to deliver locally relevant development solutions. As NABARD enters its 45th year, it reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Arunachal Pradesh’s rural economy through investments in high-value agriculture, horticulture, natural farming, GI products, food processing, bamboo, handloom and handicrafts, renewable energy, eco-tourism, rural enterprises and technology-driven agriculture. The institution said it would continue working alongside rural communities to strengthen infrastructure, build sustainable livelihoods, protect natural resources and promote inclusive economic growth across the State.      

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Jal Shakti Ministry to hold key conference with states on water sector reforms on Monday

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NEW DELHI : The Ministry of Jal Shakti will hold a conference of senior water resources secretaries from states and Union Territories on Monday to review key water sector initiatives and strengthen Centre-state coordination on reforms and implementation. The conference, to be convened by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan here, aims to review the progress of the ministry’s major national programmes and discuss priority initiatives in the water resources sector. Key issues on the agenda include the modernisation of the Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM) scheme, the nationwide ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign, revised project appraisal guidelines, dam safety and state water reforms. Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil will chair the conference. Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary and Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, V L Kantha Rao, will co-chair it, according to an official statement. The conference will be attended by senior officials from the water resources departments of all states and Union Territories, as well as the Ministry of Jal Shakti, including its organisations, attached and subordinate offices such as the Central Water Commission, National Dam Safety Authority and National Water Mission. Discussions will focus on eight priority agenda items, including the status of the modernisation of the Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM) scheme and the special one-month nationwide ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign aimed at strengthening people’s participation in water conservation. Other issues on the agenda include revised draft project appraisal guidelines for irrigation, multipurpose and flood management projects, rule curves of dam reservoirs and their effective implementation for improved reservoir operations and dam safety, the status of the state water reforms framework, completion of comprehensive dam safety evaluation under the Dam Safety Act, 2021 by December 2026, progress of irrigation censuses in states and Union Territories, and a framework for model state water awards. According to the ministry, the conference will also provide an opportunity for states and Union Territories to share experiences, discuss implementation challenges and evolve coordinated strategies to accelerate reforms in the water sector. The deliberations are expected to facilitate the timely implementation of the ministry’s ongoing programmes. The conference forms part of the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s continued efforts to enhance sustainable water resources management through improved policy coordination, institutional strengthening, efficient project implementation, enhanced dam safety and greater community participation in water conservation, it said. (Source: PTI)