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ITANAGAR, The valedictory session of MAiTRI-2026, organised by the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering of the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), was held on Saturday at the EE Seminar Hall. NERIST Director Prof Narendranath S attended the programme as the chief guest and appreciated the efforts of organising chairs Dr Kurmendra and Dr Chitranjan Kumar Rai for successfully conducting the international conference. He also commended the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering for organising an important academic event and encouraged the department to hold more research-oriented programmes in future. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati Prof Samrendra Dandapat attended the session as the guest of honour and highlighted the growing importance of machine intelligence in national development. He stressed the significance of organising such conferences at reputed institutions like NERIST. NERIST Dean (Administration) Prof M Chandrasekharan and Dean (Planning and Development) Prof Sachindra Mahato lauded the department and the organising team for successfully conducting the conference in collaboration with Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, Punjab. Speaking on behalf of the participants, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad Assistant Professor Dr Arvind Prajapati appreciated the uniqueness of the conference and praised the keynote speakers for their insightful lectures. Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering Head In-charge Prof Rajesh Kumar highlighted the significance of MAiTRI-2026 and acknowledged the contributions of faculty members, speakers, participants and organisers towards the successful conduct of the event. The vote of thanks was proposed by organising chairs Dr Kurmendra and Dr Chitranjan Kumar Rai, who expressed gratitude to the NERIST administration, collaborating institute, student volunteers, participants and all stakeholders for their support and cooperation in making the conference successful.        

MEGDONG, The Combined Annual Training Camp (CATC-05), organised by the 1 Arunachal Pradesh Battalion National Cadet Corps (NCC) under the aegis of NCC Group Headquarters Tezpur, concluded on Sunday at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), Megdong. Conducted from May 1 to 10, the camp marked a significant milestone as the first NCC training camp organised in the remote region, reflecting the commitment of 1 AP Battalion NCC to extending quality training opportunities to cadets in far-flung areas and ensuring inclusive participation. During the 10-day camp, cadets underwent extensive training aimed at promoting discipline, leadership, physical fitness and national integration. Activities included physical training, yoga, aerobics, drill, weapon training, map reading, field craft, battle craft, judging distance, field signals, camouflage techniques, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, disaster management awareness and drug abuse awareness sessions. Cadets also participated in 25-metre shooting and firing practice, which enhanced their practical field skills, confidence and focus. The camp featured several informative sessions by resource persons. Lieutenant Siddhant Gaikwad of 19 JAT delivered a lecture on Operation Sindoor, while Women and Child Health Department Deputy Director Nyajar Gusar conducted an awareness session on health and hygiene. ADC Kodak addressed the cadets on career counselling and motivated them to pursue their goals with dedication and clarity. As part of experiential learning and community engagement, cadets visited Vibrant Villages including Megdong, Meche Marde and Belo, where they interacted with local residents and gained exposure to the region’s cultural heritage and traditions. A Swachh Bharat Abhiyan cleanliness drive was also organised on the school premises to promote civic responsibility, cleanliness and environmental awareness among the cadets. Adventure and team-building activities such as trekking expeditions and crew cooking exercises formed an integral part of the camp, encouraging teamwork, endurance, self-reliance and cooperation. The camp also provided a platform for cultural and personality development activities. Competitions in group dance, singing, skits, drama and public speaking witnessed enthusiastic participation from cadets. Officials said the camp benefitted cadets from remote areas by enabling them to attend structured NCC training closer to their homes, reducing long-distance travel and related expenses while encouraging wider grassroots participation. The successful conduct of CATC-05 has set a strong precedent for organising similar camps in remote areas in future, further strengthening the NCC’s commitment towards inclusive youth development and equal training opportunities across the region. (DIPR)

Dear Citizen, Schedule 8th to 11th May Somnath-Virasat ke 75 Saal. Somnath is a symbol of India’s indomitable civilisation. 75 years ago, the resolve of the Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, paved the way for the modern revival of Somnath. Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, this sacred land proudly heralds India’s cultural renaissance. This message is being shared in connection with presence and participation related to this historic occasion .

LIKABALI, Union Minister of State (MoS) for Corporate Affairs and Road Transport & Highways Harsh Malhotra concluded his two-day visit to Lower Siang district on Saturday after reviewing the progress of road and infrastructure projects during a coordination meeting at Likabali. The meeting was attended by Heads of Departments, Panchayat members, Border Roads Organisation officials and National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) Executive Director. Reviewing the status of developmental works, Malhotra stressed the need to overcome challenges and ensure timely execution of projects with minimal hindrance. “We have constraints, but success can only be achieved by overcoming them,” he said. Reiterating the Centre’s commitment towards the welfare and development of the Northeastern states, particularly aspirational and underprivileged regions, the Minister assured that the longstanding demand for conversion of the 105-km Akajan–Bame road stretch into a National Highway would be taken up with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and the Defence Ministry for an early solution. During departmental presentations, Malhotra advised officers to submit proposals and official notes to the government in a timely manner and actively pursue them. “Development is a collective responsibility and remains a top priority of the Central Government,” he said. Earlier, the Minister visited an Anganwadi Centre at Lipu, where he interacted with officials, Anganwadi workers and children. He also directed the district administration to provide additional basic facilities to the centre. The Minister later inspected the road stretch from Likabali to Siji along the proposed Likabali–Bame highway to assess its condition firsthand. The road is regarded as the lifeline for six districts of the state. Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Speaker and Likabali MLA Kardo Nyigyor reiterated the demand for declaration of the Akajan–Bame road as a National Highway and sought the Union Minister’s intervention for priority consideration. “The road will connect the existing National Highways in Assam with the state highway at Bame in Leparada district,” Nyigyor said. Describing it as both a lifeline for six interior districts and a strategically important defence route, he said the poor condition of the road severely hampers vehicular movement during the monsoon season, often disrupting connectivity for days. The Union Minister was accompanied during the visit by Lower Siang In-charge Deputy Commissioner Mokar Riba, Lower Siang Superintendent of Police Bomken Basar, officials of various departments, NHIDCL officials and other dignitaries. (DIPR)      

BOMDILA, The Science Centre and Digital Planetarium project at Dirang received a major push with the first meeting of its Governing Council being held at the conference hall of the Additional Deputy Commissioner’s office in Dirang on Saturday. The meeting was chaired by West Kameng Deputy Commissioner Akriti Sagar. Arunachal Pradesh State Council for Science and Technology (APSCS&T) director-cum-member secretary CD Mungyak briefed the council on the status of the project and presented an overview of APSCS&T. National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) Guwahati director Sujay Majumdar highlighted the key features of the Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS) under the Ministry of Culture. “The state-level commitments, including construction of the boundary wall, dedicated power supply and water supply, should be expedited for timely implementation of the project,” he said. Addressing the meeting, West Kameng Deputy Commissioner Akriti Sagar called for close coordination among departments and stakeholders to ensure that the upcoming Science Centre meets national standards. “This is one of the state’s most prestigious projects and it will play a significant role in promoting scientific culture across the North-East region,” she said. The Governing Council resolved to expedite mandatory clearances and strengthen inter-departmental coordination for early commencement of civil works. The Science Centre and Digital Planetarium is being developed under the SPoCS scheme with technical support from the NCSM and is expected to emerge as a hub for science education, innovation and tourism in West Kameng district. Among others, Dirang Additional Deputy Commissioner Choiki Dondup, APSCS&T-DBT-BRSD joint director Dr Debajit Mahanta, West Kameng Deputy Director of School Education Ribom Basar Gamlin, NCSM Guwahati superintending engineer Asif Salim, Dirang PWD executive engineer Uku Joram, chief architect of M/S Kothari and Associates Bimal Mistry and Arunachal Pradesh Science Centre curator Vivek Kumar attended the meeting. (DIPR)  

ITANAGAR, AIIMS-Guwahati President Bhupendra Kumar Singh Sanjay on Saturday called on Arunachal Pradesh Governor K T Parnaik at the Lok Bhavan here and discussed the evolving healthcare scenario in the northeastern region, with focus on the challenges in the state. According to an official statement, Parnaik shared his concern over the growing prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, stress-related disorders, and cardiovascular ailments in people across all age groups. Stressing the importance of preventive healthcare, he requested AIIMS-Guwahati to undertake dedicated studies and research initiatives to identify region-specific causes and recommend practical remedies suited to the socio-cultural and geographical conditions in the region. Highlighting the need for a holistic healthcare approach, the governor emphasised the importance of introducing the latest technologies and advanced medical research into the state’s healthcare ecosystem. He urged AIIMS-Guwahati to share healthcare innovations, research findings, and best medical practices with health officials and institutions of Arunachal Pradesh to strengthen healthcare delivery, improve diagnostic capabilities, and enhance patient care. Sanjay, a renowned orthopaedic surgeon and Padma Shri awardee, assured the governor of AIIMS-Guwahati’s cooperation and support to strengthen healthcare collaboration with Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences. (Source: PTI)    

TAWANG, Arunachal Pradesh State Food Commission (APSFC) Chairman Tarh Tarak, accompanied by Commission Member Maji Choker, reviewed the implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA) schemes in Tawang district during a visit on Saturday. The APSFC team is on a four-day tour of western Arunachal Pradesh covering Tawang, West Kameng, Bichom and East Kameng districts to assess the implementation of the NFSA and related welfare schemes. A review meeting chaired by Tawang Deputy Commissioner Namgyal Angmo was attended by implementing officers from various line departments. Key schemes reviewed included PM POSHAN, Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP), Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), the Public Distribution System (PDS), and National Health Mission schemes for pregnant and lactating women. Addressing the meeting, APSFC Chairman Tarh Tarak appreciated the coordinated efforts of officers and officials of various departments. “The Central and State governments have introduced several important schemes related to food security, food safety and healthcare to ensure healthy living and wellbeing of the people,” Tarak said. “All schemes under the NFSA must be implemented effectively and officers should ensure that no grievances arise from the public”, he added. Later, the Commission team inspected the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godown in Tawang, along with several fair price shops and cooperative outlets. During the inspection, the team found that the FCI godown had adequate foodgrain stock to meet requirements during the upcoming monsoon season and that the storage facility was well maintained. Among others present during the review meeting and inspections were Tawang Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) Dondup Pema, Lumla CDPO Diris Diengdoh, Tawang Deputy Director of School Education (DDSE) Hridhar Phuntso, Medical Superintendent Dr Tenzin Kunga, SIFCS Sange Tsering Kee, and Food Safety Officer Assistant Dorjee Phuntso. (DIPR)    

ITANAGAR, As part of the National Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Risk Management Programme (NGRMP) and efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness, the Arunachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) on Saturday organised a three-day hands-on training programme on bathymetry survey devices in Itanagar. The programme aimed to enhance the technical capacity of officials and experts expected to participate in surveys of identified high-risk glacial lakes in the state. Arunachal Pradesh currently has 32 identified high-risk glacial lakes that pose potential threats of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods. The training began with theoretical sessions on the technical aspects, operation and applications of bathymetry survey devices, followed by practical demonstrations and field-based exercises at Ganga Lake. Participants were also trained in data collection and processing techniques. Experts and officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Geological Survey of India (GSI), Arunachal Pradesh Space Application Centre (APSAC), Water Resources Department, State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) participated in the programme. Speaking on the occasion, APSDMA Joint Director said, “Bathymetric surveys are essential to assess the risks posed by identified high-risk glacial lakes and to facilitate mitigation planning.” “Despite several earlier attempts, bathymetric studies could not be conducted due to administrative challenges. APSDMA subsequently procured its own bathymetry survey device to carry forward the work,” he said. The Joint Director further said, “APSDMA currently lacks sufficient technical experts in this field and therefore requires support from specialists across various departments. Full cooperation during future survey and mitigation activities is crucial.” He also stressed the need for conducting Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) studies to examine the internal structure and stability of moraine dams surrounding glacial lakes. “ERT assessments are vital for effective risk management and for planning appropriate mitigation measures,” he added, while appealing to the concerned departments to support APSDMA in conducting the studies. The initiative forms part of APSDMA’s broader strategy to strengthen preparedness against potential GLOF incidents amid concerns over the increasing size of several glacial lakes and the risks posed to downstream communities.