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NAHARLAGUN : The Arunachal Press Club (APC), the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ), and the Arunachal Publishers & Broadcasters Guild (APBG) have expressed profound grief over the demise of noted social reformer, educationist, and indigenous leader Dr Bengia Tolum, who passed away at the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), Naharlagun, on Thursday. He was 69. Dr Tolum is survived by his wife, five sons, including senior journalist Bengia Ajum, and a daughter. In a joint condolence message, APC and APUWJ described Dr Tolum’s demise as an irreparable loss not only to the Nyishi community but to the entire state. The organisations stated that his immense contributions to social harmony, indigenous identity, education, and public welfare would be remembered for generations. A six-time president of the Nyishi Elite Society (NES) and founder president of the Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum (AITF), Dr Tolum devoted decades of his life to community service, peace-building, and cultural preservation. He played a significant role in the Nyishi unification movement and the successful campaign to change the nomenclature from Dafla to Nyishi. He was also associated with several landmark peace initiatives, including the Nyishi-Apatani Summit, Roing Declaration, Bomdila Declaration, and Namsai Declaration. The organisations further noted that Dr Tolum was a visionary educationist and institution builder whose contributions extended beyond activism. From establishing Abotani Academy to promoting Nyishi language education, authoring academic books, and supporting underprivileged students, his legacy touched countless lives across the state. “Dr Bengia Tolum was not merely a community leader; he was a bridge-builder, a guardian of indigenous heritage, and a compassionate human being whose life was devoted to uplifting society. His passing leaves a void that will be difficult to fill,” the joint statement said. APC and APUWJ also conveyed heartfelt condolences to senior journalist Bengia Ajum and the bereaved family members, praying for strength during the difficult time and eternal peace for the departed soul. Meanwhile, the Arunachal Publishers & Broadcasters Guild (APBG) also mourned the demise of Dr Tolum, describing him as a visionary leader whose lifelong dedication to society, education, indigenous culture, and public welfare transformed countless lives across Arunachal Pradesh and neighbouring regions. The Guild stated that Dr Tolum’s contributions went far beyond organisational positions and titles. It highlighted his role in establishing essential public services in Yazali, promoting affordable education through Abotani Academy, supporting poor and orphaned students, preserving Nyishi language and literature, and standing firmly for indigenous rights and public causes. APBG President Chopa Cheda said, “Dr Bengia Tolum was not merely a leader, but an institution in himself whose vision, sacrifices, and humanitarian spirit shaped the destiny of thousands of families across Arunachal Pradesh. “He dedicated his entire life to uplifting society without expecting anything in return. Arunachal Pradesh has lost one of its finest sons, a fearless social reformer, and a true guardian of indigenous identity and humanity,” Cheda said. The Guild also conveyed condolences to the bereaved family members, admirers, and well-wishers of Dr Tolum and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul.    

BOMDILA : West Kameng Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr Dilip Kumar has called for active community participation and collective responsibility in ensuring effective waste management and successful implementation of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026. Chairing a meeting of the Governing Body of the District Urban Development Agency (DUDA), Bomdila, at the Deputy Commissioner’s chamber on Wednesday, Kumar stressed the need for strict implementation of the new rules and directed all stakeholders to intensify awareness campaigns on mandatory four-stream segregation of waste. He instructed the Deputy Director of School Education (DDSE) and the Bazaar Secretary to sensitise schools and the business community respectively on proper waste disposal and segregation practices. He also suggested deduction of user charges from the salaries of government employees through Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs). The DC directed the District Transport Officer (DTO) to instruct hotels and homestays to maintain colour-coded dustbins and conduct compliance checks after one month. Emphasising public awareness, particularly among visitors, Kumar called for dissemination of sanitation bye-laws at the Bhalukpong check gate through leaflets and public address systems. To reduce pressure on the treatment plant, he suggested introducing community composting in two colonies on a pilot basis and proposed a mass awareness meeting involving all stakeholders. Earlier, Urban Development Executive Engineer-cum-Member Secretary briefed the meeting on the provisions of the SWM Rules, 2026, including mandatory segregation of dry, wet, hazardous, and sanitary waste using blue, green, red, and black bins respectively. The official also highlighted the criteria for Bulk Waste Generators and penal provisions for non-compliance. Urban Development Assistant Engineer presented a PowerPoint presentation on ongoing waste management activities and outlined key features of the new rules, including the “Polluter Pays Principle” and accountability of Bulk Waste Generators. (DIPR)  

BOLENG : The second edition of the Short Height Men’s Volleyball Tournament, organised by the North Eastern Sports and Cultural Organization (NESCO), concluded at Rasing village in Siang district on Thursday. Described by the organisers as the world’s first tournament of its kind, the competition was held with a reduced net height of 7 feet 2 inches, compared to the international standard of 7 feet 11 inches. The event was conducted from May 3 to May 14, 2026, for players with a height range of 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 7 inches. A total of 20 teams from Siang, East Siang, West Siang, and Upper Siang districts participated in the tournament. In the grand finale, Friends IX team of Lorging village defeated Generation Z team of Beging village by 3–1 sets to lift the championship title. Trophies and prizes were presented by NESCO Chairman Er Ibrahim Pajing and Vice-Chairman Dina Tatak. Speaking at the final match, NESCO Chairman Er Ibrahim Pajing, the initiator of the Idea of Physical Height Classification (IPHC), said the initiative was aimed at addressing perceived disparities in sports based on physical height. “Unlike boxing, wrestling, weightlifting and other sports that have weight categories, many disciplines such as volleyball, basketball, athletics, swimming and field events do not have separate categories based on height. This creates an imbalance where shorter and smaller athletes are often at a disadvantage,” he said. He added, “If boxing had no weight categories, athletes like Mary Kom, Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather and Sugar Ray Leonard might never have achieved such success.” Pajing said he had been advocating for height-based classification since his school days and that NESCO has now initiated the IP Height Classification system, under which sporting events will be organised in different height categories. The proposed classification includes very short (below 5 feet 4 inches), short (5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 7 inches), medium (5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches), tall (5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet 2 inches), very tall (6 feet 4 inches to 6 feet 6 inches), and super tall or towering (6 feet 7 inches and above). Calling for wider support, he urged sports authorities at the state and national levels to recognise and adopt the system to ensure greater inclusivity in sports. “We appeal to all concerned authorities to support this initiative so that justice and equality can be ensured for shorter and smaller athletes in competitive sports,” he said. (DIPR)    

LIKABALI : A district-level workshop under the Transforming Entrepreneurial Journeys Across States and Districts (TEJAS) initiative will be held on May 18, 2026 at Circuit House, Likabali in Lower Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The programme will begin at 10 am. The initiative has been launched by Startup India under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, across 132 districts in the country to strengthen the startup ecosystem and promote grassroots innovation. The TEJAS initiative aims to identify, nurture and support aspiring entrepreneurs, startups, innovators, students, artisans, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and job seekers from non-metro and underserved regions by facilitating access to mentorship, institutional support, funding opportunities and other key resources for enterprise development. The workshop at Likabali will be organised by the Lower Siang district administration, in collaboration with Startup India, DPIIT, and the Arunachal Pradesh Innovation and Investment Park (APIIP) under the Department of Planning and Investment, along with ecosystem partners, including the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative. Officials said sessions during the programme will focus on entrepreneurship development, innovation support and awareness about available government schemes and funding avenues for startups and small enterprises. The TEJAS initiative aligns with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat@2047, aiming to unlock entrepreneurial potential across regions and promote inclusive and balanced economic growth. For further information, interested participants may contact 8798128437 or 6235558986.          

ITANAGAR : The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) on Wednesday strongly condemned the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, terming it a “systemic betrayal” of lakhs of medical aspirants across the country. In a press release, AAPSU demanded immediate accountability, structural reforms in the National Testing Agency (NTA), and expansion of examination centres across Arunachal Pradesh. AAPSU President Meje Taku said, “The NEET-UG examination is the sole entrance gateway for medical and dental undergraduate courses in India. Compromise of such an examination strikes at the very foundation of meritocracy and public trust in national institutions.” The NTA cancelled the examination conducted on May 3 following allegations that a document containing around 410 questions had circulated on WhatsApp groups weeks before the examination. Reports also alleged that nearly 120 Chemistry questions matched the actual question paper. The cancellation has affected over 22.79 lakh registered candidates nationwide. The union stated that the recurrence of the controversy, following a similar incident in 2024, indicated “deep structural flaws” in the examination system rather than an isolated lapse. AAPSU demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation’s inquiry into the case be completed within a publicly declared time frame and called for strict action against all individuals, syndicates, coaching centres and institutional insiders found involved. Taku further urged the Union Education Ministry to place a comprehensive reform roadmap for the NTA, including independent operational audits, stronger digital and physical security mechanisms for question paper handling, and mandatory third-party verification of examination processes. On the issue of re-examination, Taku said, “Conducting another examination without first implementing structural reforms would only repeat the same flawed process.” The union also sought financial reimbursement for candidates who had travelled to examination centres for the cancelled test, particularly students from Arunachal Pradesh who often face difficult and expensive journeys due to the state’s challenging terrain and limited transport connectivity. AAPSU pointed out that only four examination centres — Itanagar/Naharlagun, Basar, Namsai and Pasighat — were allotted in Arunachal Pradesh for NEET-UG 2026, forcing students from remote districts such as Tawang, Anjaw, Dibang Valley, Longding and Tirap to travel long distances. The union demanded that the NTA immediately establish additional examination centres in major district headquarters including Bomdila, Tawang, Tezu, Ziro, Aalo, Changlang, Deomali and Roing. “The youth of Arunachal Pradesh ask for nothing beyond what every aspirant in this country deserves — a fair examination, a credible process, and an examination centre they can reach without sacrificing their health, savings, or livelihood,” the release stated. AAPSU affirmed that it would continue to pursue the matter with the Ministry of Education and mobilise student opinion until its demands are addressed.