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PASIGHAT, OCT 9: As part of its Golden Jubilee outreach, the Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY) is bringing Indian classical music and dance to schools in remote towns, villages and border areas of Arunachal Pradesh. The initiative aims to familiarise students with the country’s rich cultural heritage and is being coordinated by State Coordinator Chayanika Vashisth with the support of district administrations and the School Education Department. In East Siang district, the programme is being coordinated by Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) Coordinator Opet Doso and Science and Technology Coordinator Aido Tayeng of the office of the Deputy Director of School Education (DDSE), in coordination with the state team. During the first phase, held from October 5 to 9, Manipuri classical dancer Ivana Sarkar performed at various schools in Pasighat block. Trained under Gurus Kalavati Devi and Bimbavati Devi at Manipuri Nartanalaya, Sarkar is an empanelled artiste of the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), SPIC MACAY and Doordarshan. She received the Dr Sunil Kothari Award in 2023. SPIC MACAY, which will complete 50 years in 2027, is planning its Golden Jubilee celebrations at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, alongside international conventions and programmes at various locations worldwide. As part of the lead-up to the milestone, the organisation is conducting outreach programmes across the country. In Arunachal Pradesh, the initiative is being implemented in phases, with the next round scheduled from October 27 to 31. The programme aims to cover 10 schools in each district, extending exposure to India’s classical art forms to students, including those in remote and border areas. (DIPR)

PASIGHAT, OCT 9: Arunachal Pradesh University (APU) concluded its month-long Vande Mataram@150 celebrations with a valedictory programme and a two-day national seminar featuring 95 paper presentations in online and offline modes on Friday. Addressing the valedictory programme, APU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ashan Riddi stressed the importance of documentation and digitalisation for institutional growth and called for decentralised, participatory administration. He also set a target of enrolling at least 3,000 students at the university. Riddi congratulated the organising team and appreciated the Department of Mass Communication for hosting the event. Describing Union Minister Kiren Rijiju’s campus visit as a “blessing in disguise”, he said the minister’s firsthand assessment of the university’s infrastructure and requirements would help it present its needs more effectively. The national seminar brought together scholars, researchers and students to deliberate on diverse subjects, including literature, media, indigenous knowledge, technology, ecology and sustainable development. The offline sessions covered three broad themes: economics, commerce, mathematics, agriculture and management; science, environment, health, indigenous knowledge and technology; and language, literature, media, history and frontier narratives. The online sessions featured four themes encompassing Vande Mataram, history, literature, gender and cultural memory; education, pedagogy, law, psychology and nation-building; media, journalism, artificial intelligence, digital technology and frontier identity; and society, ecology, economy, tourism and sustainable development. Delivering the offline plenary on “Contemporary Poetry, Media and Nation Building”, Dr Arundhati, assistant professor in the Department of Hindi at Satyawati College, University of Delhi, highlighted the role of ethical, people-oriented journalism in upholding democratic values and contributing to nation-building. Referring to Hindi literary journals such as Hans and Saraswati, she said periodicals had promoted social awareness and national integration by providing space for diverse voices. She added that contemporary poetry and journalism relied on accessible, everyday language to engage the public and encourage critical reflection. The programme concluded with the distribution of certificates to committee members associated with the celebrations.    

KANUBARI, OCT 9: Agriculture and Allied Minister Gabriel D. Wangsu on Friday handed over departmental vehicles to the Horticulture, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, Veterinary and Dairy Development (AHV&DD) departments of Longding district, urging officers to utilise them effectively to strengthen field operations and improve service delivery, particularly in remote areas. The programme was attended by Longding Deputy Commissioner Kunal Yadav, Kanubari Additional Deputy Commissioner Pebika Lego, Horticulture Director Tobom Bam, Fisheries Director Ngilyang Pussang, AHV&DD Director Danjan Longri, departmental officers and public leaders. Wangsu said the vehicles were being distributed in phases to identified districts across the state, based on departmental performance and operational requirements. Emphasising the crucial role of agriculture and allied departments in supporting farmers, livestock rearers and other rural communities, he said improved mobility was essential for field officers to reach beneficiaries, especially in remote and difficult-to-access areas. He urged government officers to discharge their duties with sincerity, dedication and commitment, assuring them of continued government support to enhance their working capacity. He expressed confidence that the vehicles would strengthen field-level interventions and contribute to agricultural development in the district. Yadav welcomed the initiative, noting that the vehicles would help departmental officers cover long distances more efficiently. He urged them to make optimum use of the vehicles to improve field performance and service delivery. The directors of Horticulture, Fisheries and AHV&DD also highlighted the importance of improved mobility in strengthening departmental operations. Later, Wangsu inspected various ongoing construction sites in Kanubari subdivision to review the progress of works.    

TAWANG, Oct 9: The BRO Labourers Union has called off its proposed two-day hunger strike scheduled for October 10 and 11 at 763 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF), Khrimu, following the intervention of Tawang district administration. The decision was taken at a meeting held in the chamber of in-charge Deputy Commissioner Rinchin Leta on Friday evening. The meeting was attended by the Officer-in-Charge of 125 Road Construction Company (RCC), the second-in-command of 763 BRTF, North East BRO Labour Union president Leki Tsering and representatives of the Tawang district BRO Labourers Union. The meeting facilitated discussions on the grievances and demands raised by the union. According to the union’s communication, the decision to call off the hunger strike followed detailed discussions, written assurances from the OC of 125 RCC, and an invitation from the Chief Engineer of Project Vartak, Tezpur, for a meeting scheduled on October 13 to discuss the pending issues. The union stated that its future course of action would depend on the outcome of the forthcoming meeting and the fulfilment of its genuine demands. The development highlights the role of dialogue and constructive engagement in addressing workers’ grievances, with the district administration’s intervention paving the way for further discussions towards an amicable resolution. (DIPR)      

ZIRO, OCT 9: The Department of Geography of Saint Claret College (Autonomous), Ziro (SCCZ), organised a one-day workshop on “Exploring Socio-Ecological Drivers and Impacts of Landscape Adaptation” at the college auditorium on Friday. The workshop was sponsored by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Itanagar. Around 100 participants, including representatives of local civil society organisations, self-help groups (SHGs), faculty members, students and other stakeholders, attended the programme. The workshop explored the interconnections between ecological conditions, cultural values, agricultural practices, livelihoods and climate resilience, with a focus on sustainable landscape management and rural development. NABARD District Development Manager (DDM) Lalit Maurya, the chief guest, spoke on “NABARD for Climate Change: Enabling a Resilient and Sustainable Rural Economy”. He highlighted the role of rural development initiatives in addressing climate-related challenges and promoting sustainability. During the technical sessions, District Horticulture Officer Hibu Dante spoke on “Growing Resilience, Nurturing Livelihoods through Horticulture”, highlighting the contribution of horticulture to livelihood development and climate resilience. Arunachal Pradesh Birding Club president Koj Mama delivered a session on “Cultural Values and Landscape Setting”, focusing on the cultural dimensions of human relationships with landscapes. Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) senior scientist and head Hage Munth spoke on “Soil Health for Sustainable Landscapes and Livelihoods”, emphasising the importance of soil health in sustaining agricultural productivity, ecological balance and community livelihoods. The interactive discussions examined the social, environmental and economic factors influencing landscape adaptation. Experts also shared suggestions on strengthening sustainable practices and enhancing community resilience.    

YINGKIONG, OCT 9: The Upper Siang district administration organised the Rangoli Traditional Sports Competition at the General Ground in Yingkiong on Friday under Seva Sankalp Utsav, aimed at preserving and promoting Arunachal Pradesh’s indigenous sporting traditions. The event was organised as part of initiatives to mark 25 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public service and leadership, while encouraging younger generations to reconnect with their cultural heritage. Young participants from Zilla Parishad constituencies under the 34-Tuting-Yingkiong and 40-Mariyang-Geku Assembly constituencies took part in traditional sporting events, including tug of war, bamboo archery, gulli danda (Tang Guti), bamboo pole climbing, Dali Haka Hinam and bamboo stick running. Zilla Parishad Chairperson Api Kombo attended as the chief guest, while Everester Kishon Tekseng was the guest of honour. Addressing the participants, Kombo encouraged them to uphold team spirit, discipline and sportsmanship, emphasising that such events foster unity among young people while promoting indigenous sporting practices. Tekseng said traditional sports competitions offered an important opportunity to reconnect younger generations with indigenous games that were gradually fading from public memory. He stressed that reviving these traditions was essential to preserving the state’s cultural roots and passing them on to future generations. Cash prizes were distributed to the winners by Kombo, Tekseng, Geku Zilla Parishad Member Katem Tateh, Jengging Zilla Parishad Member Orik Tali, District Information and Public Relations Officer Yalik Jerang and District Food and Civil Supplies Officer Naku Siram. Assistant Commissioner-cum-District Sports Officer-in-charge Binti Mibang oversaw the conduct of the competition. The event provided a platform for young participants to showcase their skills and celebrate the indigenous games and traditions of Arunachal Pradesh. (DIPR)    

YACHULI, OCT 9: The Keyi Panyor district administration organised a district-level traditional games competition at the General Ground in Yachuli on Friday as part of Seva Sankalp Utsav 2026, aiming to preserve and promote indigenous sporting traditions. The event was attended by Deputy Commissioner Ankita Mishra, Superintendent of Police Akanksha Milind Tamgadge, Zilla Parishad Chairperson (ZPC) Nabam Piju, Assistant Commissioner-cum-District Sports Officer-in-charge Mumne Borang, heads of departments, Zilla Parishad Members (ZPMs) representing all six constituencies, panchayati raj institution members, players and match officials from the Keyi Panyor District Olympic Association. In her welcome address, Borang outlined the objectives of the competition and urged participants to uphold sportsmanship, discipline and mutual respect. Addressing the gathering, Mishra expressed concern that traditional games were gradually losing prominence amid the growing popularity of modern sports such as badminton, tennis and football. She said Seva Sankalp Utsav provided an opportunity to revive the country’s traditional sporting heritage and urged participants to perform well in the state-level competition and bring recognition to the district. Piju recalled how games such as gulli danda were once an integral part of everyday childhood. She urged the state government to make the traditional sports competition a regular event and assured participants of her support in their efforts to bring laurels to Keyi Panyor. The competition featured archery, bamboo climbing, bamboo race, gulli danda and tug of war for men and women. The Keyi Panyor District Olympic Association provided match officials to ensure the smooth conduct of the events. In the results, Joram Ade of Yachuli Zilla won archery, while Neelam Bath of Deed Zilla secured the bamboo-climbing title. In bamboo race, Raban Pangta of Yachuli Zilla secured first position, followed by Taba Lej of Yazali Zilla and Khoda Tada of Deed Zilla. In gulli danda, Licha Taja of Yazali Zilla won first position, followed by Jummar Karbak of Pitapool Zilla and Joram Lej of Yachuli Zilla. Deed Zilla and Yachuli Zilla secured first and second positions respectively in the women’s tug of war. In the men’s event, Pitapool Zilla won first position, followed by Yazali Zilla and Yachuli Zilla. The Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM), Keyi Panyor, also set up an information kiosk and distributed information, education and communication materials on skill development programmes under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), encouraging eligible youth to explore employment-oriented training opportunities. The competition provided a platform for participants from the six Zilla Parishad constituencies to showcase their skills and competitive spirit while reinforcing the importance of passing indigenous games on to younger generations. (DIPR)