September 11, 2026 8:48 pm
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ONLINE AGE

(Online version of the Arunachal Age newspaper)

Author name: OnlineAge

Latest News, Popular News, State News

9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah launched

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DEOMALI, SEP 9: The 9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah was launched at the Community Hall in Soha under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Project Namsang on Wednesday, in convergence with the Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM), Health Department, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Education Department. The programme was organised around the central theme “Hamari Anganwadi, Hamari Jimmedari”, with focus on dietary diversity and adequate protein, fresh hot cooked meals at Anganwadi Centres, community ownership and accountability, nutrition and early stimulation for childhood development, and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY). Namsang ICDS Project Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) Pakkar Nomuk highlighted the objectives of Poshan Maah and briefed the gathering on its various themes. He particularly stressed the importance of enrolling eligible beneficiaries under PMMVY and informed that eligible mothers receive Rs 5,000 for the first living child and Rs 6,000 for the second child when the second child is a girl, subject to the scheme’s eligibility conditions. Soha Health Centre Medical Officer Dr P Monwagham spoke on the importance of dietary diversity and balanced nutrition for maintaining good health. Soha Gram Panchayat Chairperson (GPC) Wikhin Songthing appreciated the initiative and urged the community to actively participate in such programmes to promote better health, nutrition and overall well-being. ArSRLM Deomali Block Mission Manager Tasso Rinnya Doji highlighted the nutritional and economic benefits of consuming locally available vegetables and fruits, describing them as affordable sources of nutritious food for rural households. The programme concluded with a food-tasting and demonstration session featuring khichdi and other nutritious food items prepared from locally available ingredients. The programme highlighted the importance of proper nutrition, dietary diversity and healthy food practices for the growth and development of children and the well-being of mothers and families. (DIPR)      

REGIONAL

NESO condemns murder of Manipur musician in Delhi, demands immediate arrest of perpetrators

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SHILLONG, SEP 9: NESO on Wednesday condemned the killing of 54-year-old Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh in Southeast Delhi and demanded a swift and impartial probe into the incident. Singh was beaten to death by a group of delivery workers and dhaba staff when he objected to their shouting and drinking alcohol outside his Kilokari village apartment early Monday. North Eastern Students’ Organisation (NESO) chairman Samuel B Jyrwa said the incident was deeply disturbing and demanded that all those responsible be brought to justice. “It is deeply disturbing that a person can lose his life merely for raising an objection to disturbance outside his own home. We demand a transparent and impartial investigation and exemplary punishment for every person found responsible,” Jyrwa said in a statement here. He said the killing cannot be viewed in isolation from the continuing harassment, racial discrimination, stereotyping, intimidation and violence faced by people from the Northeast in different parts of mainland India. “For years, Northeastern citizens living, studying and working outside the region have repeatedly reported being subjected to racial slurs, verbal abuse, physical attacks, social discrimination and other forms of humiliation because of their appearance, identity and place of origin,” Jyrwa alleged. Jyrwa called upon the authorities to treat the matter with the utmost seriousness and urgency and ensure that no person responsible for the crime is allowed to evade accountability. “The law must be applied firmly and equally, irrespective of the identity or background of the perpetrators,” he said. NESO also urged the government and law-enforcement agencies to address the broader problem of racial discrimination and violence against people from the Northeast by strengthening preventive measures, effective enforcement of the law, sensitisation of police and public institutions, and mechanisms to ensure their safety and dignity. “The loss of Chongtham Vikram Singh is not merely a personal tragedy for his family and loved ones, but a matter of deep concern for the entire Northeastern community,” Jyrwa said. NESO expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and the people of Manipur and demanded justice for Singh and accountability for every person responsible for his death. (Source: PTI)  

REGIONAL

Gauhati HC orders Assam to pay Rs 2 lakh to husband of woman expelled to Bangladesh

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GUWAHATI, SEP 9: The Gauhati High Court has directed the Assam government to pay Rs 2 lakh as interim compensation to the husband of Nagaon resident Mumtaz Begum, who was declared a non-citizen by a foreigners tribunal and pushed into Bangladesh without informing her family about her expulsion. A division bench of Justices Kalyan Rai Surana and Susmita Phukan Khaund, in its September 3 order, impleaded the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) as a respondent to a petition by the woman’s husband, Mujammel Hoque, to facilitate her repatriation. It cited a Supreme Court judgment to say that Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees protection of life and personal liberty not only to citizens but also to non-citizens. The bench observed that the woman was prevented from exhausting her right to move this court by way of a writ petition to challenge the Foreigners Tribunal’s May 30 opinion about her citizenship. Mumtaz Begum was declared a foreigner on June 6, 2019, by a foreigners tribunal in a case registered in 2015. These tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies that decide the citizenship status of people living in Assam who are suspected to be foreigners. According to protocol, after tribunals reach a decision about the citizenship status of these people, they are sent back to the country of their origin after due process by the MEA, provided they do not move the Gauhati High Court. Around 100 foreigners tribunals are functioning in Assam. Mumtaz Begum had moved the high court, which on April 20 this year set aside the tribunal’s opinion for not discussing evidence and directed her to appear before the tribunal on or before May 30. According to Mujammel Hoque’s petition, Mumtaz Begum appeared before the foreigners tribunal on May 30 along with her counsel and placed the high court order before it. The petitioner claimed that after her counsel left, personnel from the Juria police station arrested her. She was kept at Juria police station and then at the Nagaon Sadar police station, before being shifted to a transit camp at Matia in Goalpara on May 31 and subsequently to a holding centre at Eraligool in Sribhumi district, Hoque said in his plea, seeking that his wife be produced before the court to examine whether that detention is lawful. He told the court that his wife was handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) on June 13. According to the high court’s September 3 order, the BSF affidavit stated that she was “sent back to Bangladesh on June 14, 2026”, around 10 minutes past midnight in the area of Kalaincherra in Cachar. The high court bench held that the authorities failed to serve a copy of the May 30 opinion or inform the woman’s family members about her arrest and expulsion, depriving Mumtaz Begum of the right to assail it. “As the detenue has been expelled out of India without providing any information to the petitioner or any adult family member of the detention of the detenue, as an interim palliative measure, the court is inclined to direct the Government of Assam to pay an interim compensation of Rs 2,00,000 to the petitioner,” it said. This compensation, to be paid within 60 days of receipt of the order, shall be in addition to the right of the petitioner to seek compensation before the civil court, the high court said. The bench also said it was necessary to implead MEA in the case to locate the woman in Bangladesh, bring her back and “give her an opportunity to exhaust her remedy… to approach this Court to assail the impugned opinion by filing a writ petition, if so advised”. It also noted “a case of malice in law” against the member of the Foreigners Tribunal at Nagaon’s Juria for “deliberately and wilfully” delaying issuance of the certified copy of its opinion, which was applied for on June 2 and delivered only on June 5, by which time Mumtaz Begum had already been sent to Bangladesh. The high court directed the Home and Political Department of the Assam government to find out the exact date and time when the May 30 opinion was made ready in the Foreigners Tribunal. It has listed the matter on September 24 for the next hearing. As interim measures, it has directed the superintendent of police (Border) of every district to inform a declared foreign national about the foreigners tribunal opinion and provide a copy before taking him into custody, and inform adult family members before shifting him outside jurisdiction. PTI                

Editorial

Warming peaks: Near and inevitable

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In the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)’s latest report on climate change, there is another escalation of an increasingly familiar threat. The report, titled Limiting Overshoot and released last week, says global temperature rise can no longer be contained within the threshold of 1.5° Celsius above pre-industrial levels, laid down by the Paris Agreement. Even the most favourable projections see the warming to reach 1.8° C in the coming years.  Other climate models have projected worse scenarios. The Paris red line has been breached multiple times in the past five years. Even if all nations implement their stated climate policies, the 1.8°C mark will be touched. If they continue with their current policies, warming could peak at 2.6°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has asked the world to make the overshoot above 1.5° C “as small and short as possible”. The report notes that climate adaptation has limits, and lost climate conditions cannot be recaptured. Every additional fraction of a degree and the time spent above the threshold make it increasingly difficult to fight an increase in the temperature.  The report says offsetting the heating effect of even a tenth of a degree is much more difficult than preventing that rise. This reiterates the urgency of implementing mitigation strategies with greater focus. No climate plan adopted, promised or envisaged until now can clear the accumulated carbon in the atmosphere in the foreseeable future. Limiting Overshoot also calls for efforts that address threats beyond carbon dioxide. The UN has identified cutting methane emissions as a quick and cost-effective measure to slow warming in the near term and called for targeted priority actions. While the Global Methane Pledge has provided a head start, its implementation has yet to gather the required pace. India is not a member of the programme. Climate change is manifesting in diverse forms in different parts of the world. Unprecedented heat waves are sweeping through Europe and America, the polar ice is melting, and the seas are rising. Floods, cyclones, and other disasters are frequent in Asia. A flash flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Nepal, reportedly caused by a glacial collapse in the higher Himalayas, killed more than a thousand people. Many more are missing. The UNEP report is the latest warning that the time for action is slipping away. It is about events inexorably moving to a tragedy, predicted and chronicled. (Source: DH)

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Assembly passes 3 key bills on MSMEs, fire services, development around airports

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ITANAGAR, SEP 8: The Arunachal Pradesh assembly on Tuesday passed three key bills aimed at facilitating the growth of MSMEs, strengthening fire and emergency services and promoting planned development around airports in the state. The bills were passed by voice vote after being introduced and taken up for deliberations in the House. Industries Minister Nyato Dukam presented the Arunachal Pradesh Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Facilitation, Establishment and Operation) Bill, 2026, which seeks to create a more facilitative environment for setting up and operating MSMEs in the state. The proposed legislation provides for exemption from certain approvals and inspections for MSMEs, with the objective of promoting inclusive economic growth, generating employment and encouraging entrepreneurship. The Bill, however, seeks to retain existing safeguards relating to public health and safety, tribal land rights, forest laws and labour welfare. Home Minister Mama Natung introduced the Arunachal Pradesh Fire and Emergency Services (Amendment) Bill. The legislation seeks to amend provisions of the existing Fire and Emergency Services law, particularly those relating to references to the National Building Code. The Arunachal Pradesh Airport Area Development Authority Bill was presented by Urban Affairs Minister Balo Raja. It proposes to establish an authority for planned development of the new township around Hollongi Airport. The authority will be responsible for planning, coordination, execution, supervision and financing of township development in the airport area, besides managing and supervising urban services. The legislation also seeks to facilitate infrastructure development and the upgradation of existing facilities in and around airports in the state. (Source: PTI)

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Vice Prez C. P. Radhakrishnan arrives in Arunachal on two-day visit

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ITANAGAR, SEP 8: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan arrived in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday on a two-day visit, during which he will address a special session of the state assembly, officials said. Radhakrishnan was received at Donyi Polo Airport at Hollongi by Governor KT Parnaik, Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, among others. He was accorded a guard of honour at the airport before proceeding to Lok Bhavan, where he will stay overnight, officials said. “Warmly received the Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri CP Radhakrishnan Ji, at Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar. A warm and heartfelt welcome to the Land of the Rising Sun, Arunachal Pradesh,” Khandu said in a social media post. The chief minister expressed hope that Radhakrishnan’s visit would be memorable and meaningful, marked by the warmth of the people, the state’s mountains and its rich tribal heritage. The state government will host a dinner in Radhakrishnan’s honour at the Lok Bhavan. The governor, chief minister and members of the state cabinet will attend it, officials said. On Wednesday, Radhakrishnan will attend a special session of the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly and visit the Assembly Gallery-cum-Museum. His itinerary also includes visits to Nyedar Namlo (Prayer Hall), the Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum and the Donyi Polo Mission School for the Hearing and Visually Impaired. Radhakrishnan, who arrived in Arunachal Pradesh from Manipur, is scheduled to leave for New Delhi at around 4.30 pm on Wednesday. Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place across Itanagar for the vice president’s visit. Itanagar Capital Region SP Jummar Basar said adequate security forces had been deployed at all venues in Radhakrishnan’s itinerary. “Night patrolling has also been conducted throughout the capital city for the past few days,” he said, declining to disclose details of the security deployment. Later, the Vice President received a traditional welcome at Lok Bhavan from members of various indigenous communities dressed in their traditional attire. Welcoming Radhakrishnan to the State, Governor Lt Gen KT Parnaik expressed confidence that his visit would inspire the people of Arunachal Pradesh and strengthen their confidence in the State’s development aspirations. He particularly highlighted the potential of the Vice President’s interaction with the people to motivate the younger generation. A specially curated cultural programme titled ‘The Land of Cultures and Traditions’ was organised at the Durbar Hall of Lok Bhavan in his honour. The programme showcased India’s cultural unity and Arunachal Pradesh’s diverse heritage through music and dance. Students of the Department of Fine Arts and Music, Rajiv Gandhi University, presented two Hindustani classical compositions. Students of Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya and Jomu Norbu Khrimey Public School, Itanagar, presented Bharatanatyam and Kathak performances, while artists showcased Rikam Pada, a traditional dance of Arunachal Pradesh. Staff artist of the Department of Art and Culture Mibi Nyodu Taring presented a patriotic song highlighting national unity and pride. Later, Governor Lt Gen KT Parnaik hosted a State Banquet in honour of the Vice President at Siddhartha Hall, Lok Bhavan. Members of the State Cabinet, Members of Parliament and other dignitaries attended the banquet. The occasion also provided an opportunity for interaction and exchange of views on the development, progress and future aspirations of Arunachal Pradesh. (Source: PTI/PRO of Raj Bhavan)  

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Natung says bandh calls illegal, appeals all to discourage practice

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ITANAGAR, SEP 8: Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Mama Natung on Tuesday said that a call for a strike cannot be considered legal, and warned that the law would take its course against those resorting to such practice. When the matter of frequent calls for bandhs disrupting normal life in the state was raised by Congress MLA Kumar Waii during Zero-Hour discussions in the Assembly, the minister said the Supreme Court held in 1997 that there was no legal right to call or enforce a bandh when it interferes with the fundamental rights of others. Natung said frequent calls for bandhs were a matter of concern as they affected normal life and could also discourage companies from operating in the state. “Peace is the prerequisite for development,” he said, adding that some companies involved in development activities, such as National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd, were keeping their offices outside Arunachal Pradesh because of frequent disruptions. The Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2014, provides for the prevention of certain unlawful activities, and specifically covers bandh enforced through intimidation, psychological fear or threat, along with disruption of essential services and damage to public or private property. Natung added that the Arunachal Pradesh Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act, 2020, was enacted to deal with damage to property and recovery of losses. “If any union gives an illegal call for bandh, the law will take its course,” the minister said. He said the present government stood for accountability, transparency, reform, transform and perform, and maintained that it was always ready to hear the grievances of unions and organisations and make efforts to resolve them. He referred to the recent consultations with stakeholders, including the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union, ST Bachao Andolan Committee and Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum, saying the government had been engaging with organisations to address their concerns. A high-level consultative meeting involving these groups was held on May 27 and May 29, during which the government decided to constitute four high-powered committees on APST certificate re-verification, the non-APST offspring issue, strengthening the Inner Line Permit system and reviewing the ILP Guidelines 2026, besides concerns over infiltration. Natung said the number of bandh calls had reduced significantly, and appealed to all to discourage the practice. Raising the issue in the House, Waii said unrecognised unions were calling for bandhs even over petty issues, causing considerable hardship to the common people. The government should take the matter seriously and make efforts to address the grievances of such organisations before they turn into bandh calls, he said. Waii alleged that some unrecognised unions were using bandh calls to put pressure on the government and claimed that crores of rupees were sometimes paid to persuade them to withdraw such calls. “This culture should be stopped,” he said. (Source: PTI)    

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Namsai Journalist Welfare Forum marks first foundation day

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NAMSAI, SEP 8: The Namsai Journalist Welfare Forum celebrated its first Foundation Day at the Multipurpose Cultural Hall here with the participation of media persons, public representatives, government officials, Heads of Offices, Community-Based Organisation (CBO) representatives, students and other stakeholders. Namsai Zilla Parishad Chairperson (ZPC) Chow Sujana Namchoom was the chief guest, while Namsai Superintendent of Police and Piyong-Lenkang ZPM attended as special guests. Addressing the gathering, the Namsai SP highlighted the media’s role as a pillar of democracy and an important medium for informing and educating the public. He said the power of the media comes with responsibility and urged journalists to uphold ethical journalism, accuracy, impartiality and professionalism. Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) Nodal Officer Dr M Thaumoung spoke on drug abuse and the need for collective efforts to prevent substance abuse, particularly among young people. He stressed the importance of awareness, community participation and coordinated action in building a drug-free society. Namchoom appreciated the contribution of the media in highlighting issues of public interest and serving as a bridge between people and the administration. He urged journalists to maintain professional ethics, impartiality and credibility while reporting on issues concerning society and development. The celebration provided an opportunity for media persons and stakeholders to reflect on the role of journalism in promoting public awareness, accountability and inclusive development. The programme concluded with a renewed commitment to responsible journalism and constructive engagement among the media, administration and community.

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APSPCB member secretary visits Gujarat Pollution Control Board

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GANDHINAGAR, SEP 8: Arunachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (APSPCB) Member Secretary D Dohu Robin, who also serves as Member Secretary of the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), Arunachal Pradesh, visited the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) here on Tuesday and held detailed discussions with senior officials on environmental regulation and digital monitoring mechanisms. The meetings were held at the GPCB Conference Hall and the SEAC and State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) Secretariat, Gandhinagar. Discussions focused on Environmental Clearance (EC) for Category-B projects, sand mining, preparation of District Survey Reports (DSRs), environmental safeguards and other regulatory matters. SEAC Gujarat Chairman D M Thaker, a former Member Secretary of GPCB, briefed the visiting delegation on the functioning of SEAC Gujarat and the projects handled by the committee. It was informed that GPCB receives an average of 20,000 applications for Consent annually, while SEAC receives around 2,200 applications for Environmental Clearance. The discussions also explored the possibility of developing a Dashboard Portal for Arunachal Pradesh on the State Government website with technical support from the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The proposed portal would enable online monitoring and tracking of applications other than Consent applications, which are currently processed through the Unified Consent and Authorization Management System (UCAMS) of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The interaction also covered regulatory and environmental management issues relating to hazardous substances, Bio-Medical Waste (BMW), Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste. Officials from GPCB, SEAC Gujarat, SEIAA and NIC participated in the discussions. The visit provided an opportunity to exchange institutional experiences and best practices and explore digital regulatory mechanisms for strengthening environmental clearance, monitoring and regulatory systems in Arunachal Pradesh.      

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Zonal workshop on NSSF begins

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ITANAGAR, SEP 8: A four-day Zonal Workshop on the National Supportive Supervision Framework (NSSF), Zone 1, began at Donyi Polo International Hotel here on Tuesday, bringing together officials and representatives of State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs) to deliberate on strengthening Community Level Federations (CLFs) and enhancing their institutional capacity and sustainability. The workshop, being held from September 8 to 11, is hosted by the Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). The programme provides a platform for participating State and Union Territory teams to examine field-level observations, identify institutional gaps and develop practical action plans for strengthening CLFs. ArSRLM CEO-cum-State Mission Director Sangeeta Yirang, APCS (AG), welcomed the participating teams, National Resource Persons (NRPs), National Mission Management Unit (NMMU) representatives and other participants. She highlighted the importance of collective learning and experience-sharing in strengthening implementation of the NSSF. The workshop is being attended by representatives from Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, along with officials and functionaries from Arunachal Pradesh. The NSSF seeks to shift from conventional compliance-oriented monitoring to a supportive and institution-focused approach, enabling CLFs to evolve as self-governing, women-led and sustainable community institutions. The framework is based on five key pillars—Governance, Human Resources and Cadre, Financial Self-Reliance, Member Outcomes and Social Agency. It also uses four institutional lenses focusing on CLFs as social entities and networks of trust, their goal of self-reliance, horizontal coordination and linkages with the wider social and economic ecosystem. The first day focuses on field observations and analysis through the NSSF lenses. The subsequent sessions will cover group presentations, validation of observations, identification of cross-cutting issues and preparation of action plans, including interventions for Swavalambi CLFs. State-wise action plans will be finalised on the third day with support from NRPs and NMMU State Anchors. The workshop will conclude on September 11 with State action-plan presentations and a way-forward session. A major focus of the workshop is to help CLFs achieve operational and financial self-reliance while strengthening governance, revenue generation, member economic empowerment and social agency. The framework also encourages stronger horizontal linkages among Village Organisations (VOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Producer Groups (PGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), local institutions, government departments and markets. The workshop is expected to facilitate peer learning and help participating States and the Union Territory develop practical, State-specific strategies for strengthening women-led community institutions and supporting their transition towards greater autonomy, financial sustainability and effective governance. (DIPR)