Author name: OnlineAge

ITANAGAR : While monsoon rain continues to lash several parts of Arunachal Pradesh, the state capital is witnessing a contrasting spell of scorching heat, prompting the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) administration to issue a heat wave advisory. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast intensified rain in parts of eastern Arunachal Pradesh for Tuesday and issued an ‘orange’ alert asking all to be prepared, as it warned of heavy to very heavy showers accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning for Namsai and Lohit districts. The ICR administration, on the other hand, has issued a heat wave advisory, asking residents to remain cautious following the IMD’s forecast of above-normal temperatures. According to the district-wise forecast issued by the Meteorological Centre here on Monday, widespread rainfall is likely to occur across the state on July 7, with heavy rain and thunderstorms expected in Namsai and Lohit. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and moderate to heavy rainfall are also likely in several adjoining districts placed under yellow alert. The weather is expected to remain unsettled on Wednesday, with the orange alert continuing for Namsai. Tirap district has also been placed under an orange alert, while yellow alerts remain in force for most central and eastern districts, indicating the possibility of thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rainfall at isolated places. On Thursday, rainfall activity is likely to ease slightly. But the IMD has retained yellow alerts for a large part of the state, indicating the likelihood of thunderstorms, lightning and moderate to heavy rain at isolated locations. The forecast for Friday suggests a further reduction in adverse weather conditions. Most districts in western, central and northern Arunachal are expected to remain free from any warning, although yellow alerts continue for parts of the eastern and southern districts where isolated spells of rain and thunderstorms may persist. Meanwhile, the ICR administration has advised people to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, particularly between noon and 3 pm, drink plenty of water, wear light-coloured cotton clothing and avoid strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day. People travelling outdoors have been asked to carry sufficient drinking water, avoid alcohol and caffeinated or carbonated beverages, and consume oral rehydration solution (ORS) or homemade drinks such as lemon water, buttermilk and rice water to prevent dehydration. Residents have also been advised to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as dizziness, weakness or fainting. The advisory further cautioned against leaving children or pets inside parked vehicles and recommended keeping homes well-ventilated to reduce indoor heat. Various departments have been directed to implement preventive measures with immediate effect. The health department has been asked to maintain adequate stocks of ORS, essential medicines, intravenous fluids and ice packs at hospitals and Anganwadi centres while strengthening surveillance of heat-related illnesses. The education department has been instructed to adjust school timings to avoid peak afternoon heat, ensure the availability of safe drinking water on campuses and suspend outdoor physical activities during heat wave conditions. The power department has been directed to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply to essential institutions, particularly hospitals and schools. (Source: PTI)      

ITANAGAR : The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has written to Chief Minister Pema Khandu seeking clarity within seven days on the status of a 13-point memorandum submitted last month. Despite a detailed discussion between union leaders and the Chief Minister on June 2, AAPSU noted that an official update is still awaited on the progress of the demands, which address critical indigenous issues. AAPSU President Meje Taku had led a delegation to meet Khandu on June 2, the day the memorandum was submitted, and the two sides discussed each demand at length. A month on, the union says it is yet to receive a formal update from the government. “We met the Chief Minister in good faith and had a good discussion on every issue. It has been a month now, and we hope to hear back on where things stand,” Taku said. Among the demands is the scrapping of the existing 80:20 recruitment ratio in state government jobs, with AAPSU pushing for mandatory PRC and APST certification in all state recruitment processes. The union has pointed to the 2021 APPSCCE examination, in which a non-APST candidate topped the list, as reason for urgency on the matter. The memorandum also calls for re-amendment of Article 371(H) to bring Arunachal Pradesh’s constitutional safeguards closer to those enjoyed by Nagaland and Mizoram, and the state’s inclusion under the Sixth Schedule. It raises the long-pending Chakma-Hajong resettlement issue, seeks early completion of the Assam boundary demarcation, and calls for a central law addressing racial discrimination faced by people from the Northeast in other parts of the country. Other demands include a dedicated startup package for indigenous youth, a Chief Minister’s research fellowship for APST PhD scholars, additional CUET examination centres within the state, a designated ground for peaceful public assembly in Itanagar, and a working women’s hostel in the Itanagar Capital Region. In its letter to the Chief Minister, AAPSU described the issues as matters of “constitutional, demographic, and existential concern to the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh,” and sought a time-bound update within seven days. “These issues concern the land, identity, and future of every indigenous Arunachalee, and we remain hopeful of a positive response,” Taku said, adding that the union would continue to engage with the government on the matter.      

Staff Reporter ITANAGAR : The United Arunachal People’s Forum (UAPF) has submitted a three-point memorandum to the state government, seeking immediate intervention on issues related to the Smart Prepaid Meter System, de-reservation of forest land in the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR), and an investigation into alleged financial irregularities in the construction of the Dari–Chambang road in Kra-Daadi district. Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club on Monday, UAPF president Khyoda Daniel said the memorandum was submitted to safeguard indigenous rights and ensure transparency and accountability in governance. He warned that the forum would launch a democratic agitation if the government failed to address its demands at the earliest. Daniel recalled that the forum had served a 14-day ultimatum to the state government on June 19 over the three issues. Following the ultimatum, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, along with officials of the electrical departments, held a round-table meeting with the forum. However, the meeting ended without any concrete resolution, he said. On the issue of electricity, the UAPF demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Smart Prepaid Meter System and restoration of the conventional postpaid billing mechanism. It also sought free electricity of up to 1,000 units per month for domestic consumers in the state. Daniel said that despite Arunachal Pradesh’s immense hydropower potential, residents continue to bear high electricity costs. He argued that the people of the state should directly benefit from its abundant natural resources. He further alleged that the prepaid metering system has disproportionately affected economically weaker sections, daily wage earners, pensioners, and rural residents. According to him, the system has resulted in frequent power disconnections due to insufficient balance, additional recharge-related charges, and inconvenience for elderly citizens and people living in remote areas with limited access to digital payment facilities. The forum also urged the government to formulate a special power subsidy policy for economically weaker sections and ensure that the benefits generated from hydropower projects are shared with the people of the state. The second demand relates to the early de-reservation or rationalisation of forest boundaries within the Capital Complex and adjoining areas. Daniel stated that large portions of the present-day ICR were brought under the Durpang Reserved Forest and Wildlife Sanctuary in 1979 under the Assam Forest Regulation, 1891, when Arunachal Pradesh was still a Union Territory. He claimed that the reserved forest status has become a major obstacle in obtaining Land Possession Certificates (LPCs), land allotments, building permissions, and bank loans. He further said that several public infrastructure projects, including roads, schools, hospitals, government offices, and water supply schemes, often face delays due to forest clearance requirements. He also alleged that many indigenous villages and traditional settlements were brought under reserved forest areas without adequate consultation and called for the regularisation of traditional land holdings. On the third issue, the UAPF demanded an immediate investigation into the alleged misuse and misappropriation of over Rs 121 crore in public funds earmarked for the construction of the Dari–Chambang road project in Kra-Daadi district. UAPF general secretary Dangu Mama alleged that while the actual road length between Dari and Chambang is around 26 kilometres, funds were reportedly withdrawn for constructing a 38 to 40-kilometre stretch by the executing agency and the concerned department. The forum urged the state government to conduct a thorough inquiry into the alleged irregularities and take stringent action against all those found responsible. “We appeal to the state government to address our demands at the earliest and take immediate action on all three issues, as they are directly linked to public welfare, development, and accountability in governance,” Mama said.      

Staff Reporter ITANAGAR : The Arunachal Pradesh Teacher Educators’ Association (APTEA) on Monday announced that it will launch the third phase of its democratic agitation in the form of an indefinite pen-down protest from July 9 across all District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) and the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), intensifying its demand for regular salary disbursement through the State Exchequer. Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club here, APTEA president Tayon Dai said the association has rejected the official minutes of its June 23 meeting with Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona, alleging that the document failed to accurately reflect the discussions and assurances made during the meeting. Dai said the association’s General Body, which met on June 26, has sought a written assurance from the government by July 8 along with a concrete mechanism to ensure regular and uninterrupted salary disbursement through the State Exchequer. Failing this, the association will proceed with the indefinite pen-down protest from July 9. He informed that members would continue attending their respective institutions but refrain from routine official work in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the association. The protest will remain peaceful and democratic, he said. As part of the agitation, APTEA has also planned an “Itanagar Chalo Andolan” on the 11th day of the pen-down protest, during which members from all 11 DIETs will stage a peaceful dharna in front of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). Dai also warned that the association would resort to an indefinite hunger strike if the issue remains unresolved. Claiming that DIET employees have faced irregular salary disbursement since 2019 after the payment system shifted to the Public Financial Management System (PFMS), Dai questioned whether the employees, recruited through the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC), were being treated as state or central government staff. Describing the delay in salary payments as a violation of constitutional rights, Dai said the association has been submitting representations to the government since 2021 but the issue remains unresolved despite repeated assurances. Under its “No Pay, No Work” campaign, APTEA had earlier observed a one-day pen-down strike on May 29, followed by a two-day strike on June 4 and 5 after its demands remained unaddressed.