Author name: OnlineAge

PASIGHAT : Arunachal Pradesh University’s (APU) Ngurang Mana, Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work, represented the state, and the country at the Joint Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development (SWSD 2026), held in Nairobi, Kenya, from June 26 to 29, where she presented her ongoing PhD research. Mana presented her study titled “Prospects on the Educational Reintegration of Adolescents Recovering from Substance Use in Arunachal Pradesh,” which examines the educational experiences of adolescents recovering from substance use and proposes pathways for their reintegration into mainstream education. The research calls for coordinated interventions involving rehabilitation centres, educational institutions, families, communities, and government agencies to support sustainable recovery and educational continuity. The conference, organised jointly by the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW), and the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) in collaboration with the Global Agenda Taskforce and the Kenya National Association of Social Workers (KNASW), brought together participants from more than 100 countries. It was held under the theme “Harambee: Social Workers Unite for Sustainable Shared Futures,” drawing on the Swahili word for collective action. Speaking about her experience at the conference, Mana said it offered an appropriate platform to present findings on substance use among adolescents in Arunachal Pradesh before an international audience and to exchange ideas with scholars and practitioners working on similar issues. She added that such platforms enable knowledge transfer and collaborations that can inform evidence-based responses to social challenges in the state. She also spoke about the need to strengthen recognition of professional social work in Arunachal Pradesh, noting that the field is grounded in academic training, research, and ethical practice rather than informal or voluntary service. She said professionally trained social workers are equipped to address issues including substance use, mental health, child protection, school reintegration, community development, and disaster response. She added that there is a need to create institutional opportunities for qualified social workers within government departments, educational institutions, healthcare settings, and community organisations in the state.    

ZIRO : The Lower Subansiri district administration successfully concluded a month-long Khet Bachao Abhiyan (Save the Fields Campaign) during June, promoting sustainable farming practices, soil conservation and reduced dependence on chemical inputs across the district. Launched under the guidance of Lower Subansiri Deputy Commissioner Oli Perme, the campaign aimed to encourage natural farming while creating awareness on environmentally sustainable agricultural practices to safeguard soil health and improve farmers’ livelihoods. The campaign covered 17 villages, where teams led by Lower Subansiri District Agriculture Officer Tasso Butung, along with experts from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Yachuli, conducted field visits and interacted directly with farmers. The teams assessed soil health and promoted organic alternatives to chemical fertilisers and pesticides through practical demonstrations and farmer interactions. More than 600 farmers received hands-on training in vermicomposting, green manuring and water conservation techniques. The Agriculture Department also encouraged farmers to adopt sustainable cultivation practices under the Government of India’s National Mission on Natural Farming, highlighting its potential to restore soil fertility while reducing cultivation costs. The campaign witnessed active participation from Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), strengthening community involvement in promoting sustainable agriculture. To enhance farmers’ financial awareness and access to government support, officials from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), the State Bank of India and the Lead District Manager’s office also joined the outreach programme. They educated farmers on improved seed varieties, water-efficient farming practices and welfare schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) and the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme. The successful completion of the campaign marked another step towards promoting sustainable agriculture in Lower Subansiri by integrating traditional farming practices with scientific techniques to ensure long-term agricultural and environmental sustainability. (DIPR)    

ITANAGAR ; Governor Lt Gen K T Parnaik (Retd) on Tuesday met Rajya Sainik Board Director-cum-Secretary Air Commodore R D Mosabi (Retd) at Lok Bhavan, where the two discussed various welfare initiatives for ex-servicemen, Veer Naris, war veterans and their families across the state. During the meeting, Air Commodore Mosabi, who is relinquishing charge as Director-cum-Secretary of the Rajya Sainik Board, briefed the Governor on the Board’s activities and the challenges faced in extending welfare services to veterans and their dependants, particularly in the remote and difficult terrain of Arunachal Pradesh. He also shared his experiences and insights gained during his tenure. The Governor appreciated Air Commodore Mosabi’s dedicated and selfless service in strengthening the Board’s welfare outreach and addressing the concerns of the ex-servicemen community with commitment and compassion. In recognition of his exemplary service, the Governor presented Air Commodore Mosabi with the prestigious ‘Land of the Rising Sun’ medallion and wished him good health, happiness and success in his future endeavours.    

  MAGO : The Tawang district administration on Tuesday organised the Seva Aapke Dwar (SAD) 2.0 camp at Mago village, bringing a host of government services to the doorstep of residents under a multi-departmental outreach programme. The camp was inaugurated by Tawang Deputy Commissioner Namgyal Angmo and Zila Parishad Chairperson (ZPC) Leki Gombu. Aimed at ensuring last-mile delivery of government services, the initiative also created awareness on key public programmes, including the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Kheti Bachao Abhiyaan, Census operations, waste management, plastic pollution, and various citizen-centric welfare schemes. As many as 19 government departments participated in the camp, offering a wide range of services. The Agriculture and Veterinary departments distributed vegetable seeds, animal feed, vitamins and veterinary medicines to farmers and livestock owners. Aadhaar registration, free health check-ups and several other public services were also provided, benefiting a total of 543 people. Addressing the gathering, ZPC Leki Gombu recalled that the camp had originally been scheduled last year but had to be postponed due to heavy snowfall. He urged villagers to make full use of the services and encouraged them to raise issues requiring his intervention for timely resolution. Speaking on the occasion, DC Namgyal Angmo highlighted the rapid pace of development witnessed in Mago over the past few years. She expressed satisfaction over the growing number of tourists visiting the remote border village even during the lean tourism season, describing it as a positive sign for the local economy. Referring to the district administration’s hospitality and tourism training programme for Mago youth conducted last year, Angmo said similar capacity-building initiatives could be organised again if required. She also encouraged local residents to establish more homestays and hotels to cater to the increasing tourist inflow and generate sustainable livelihood opportunities. The programme was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Rinchin Leta, Jang Additional Deputy Commissioner (In-charge) Dr Honjon Perme, Assistant Commissioner Thutan Wangchu, District Planning Officer Nawang Thutan, Deputy Director (Rural Development) Tenzin Jambey, heads of offices from Tawang and Jang, representatives of the Indian Army, including the Commanding Officer of the Gurkha Battalion at Chuna, and local residents. Following the camp, the DC, the ZPC, the Commanding Officer and other officials visited the scenic Gongkar Lake, located at an altitude of about 15,650 feet, where they participated in a cleanliness drive. During the visit, the Commanding Officer briefed the delegation on the Indian Army’s initiatives to facilitate tourists visiting Gongkar Lake while promoting responsible tourism and environmental conservation. The successful conduct of the outreach programme reaffirmed the district administration’s commitment to strengthening last-mile governance, promoting sustainable development and encouraging community participation in one of the country’s remotest border villages. (DIPR)