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ITANAGAR, SEP 26: The All Nyishi Students’ Union (ANSU) has withdrawn its proposed 48-hour bandh scheduled from September 28 following a high-level meeting with Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday, during which the state government gave assurances on its education-related demands. The meeting, chaired by Khandu at the Conference Hall of Chief Minister’s Office-II at Niti Vihar on Saturday, was attended by Education Minister PD Sona, Home Minister Mama Natung, Health Minister Biyuram Wahge, Nyishi community legislators, representatives of the Nyishi Elite Society and ANSU office-bearers. According to the resolutions recorded at the meeting, ANSU raised five major demands: development of 56 identified government schools in the Nyishi belt; functionalisation of Toru Engineering College; establishment of a government B.Ed. college in Keyi Panyor; setting up of a government school for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) in Pakke Kessang; and an inquiry into the utilisation of Rs 500 crore under Mission Shikshit Arunachal last year. On the 56 schools, the government decided to provide financial support and undertake infrastructure development under Mission Shikshit Arunachal, with the Education Department to submit proposals after due diligence. For Toru Engineering College, the Education Department will initiate recruitment for 34 teaching and non-teaching posts and pursue approval from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Water supply and electrification works have also been prioritised, with efforts aimed at functionalising the institution by the 2027-28 academic year. The government also decided to initiate the process for creation of posts for the B.Ed. programme at NT Government College, Yachuli. The demand for a CwSN school in Pakke Kessang will be assessed after reviewing the functioning of the already approved CwSN school at Siji in Lower Siang. On ANSU’s demand for an inquiry into the alleged utilisation of Rs 500 crore under Mission Shikshit Arunachal, the Chief Minister’s Office will send a note to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to initiate an inquiry. The Education Department will also finalise Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Mission Shikshit Arunachal for consideration by the Cabinet. Following approval of the SOP, a three-year implementation plan will be prepared. The proposed bandh followed ANSU’s 12-hour bandh in the Itanagar Capital Region on September 24. The union had subsequently announced a 48-hour shutdown across seven Nyishi-inhabited districts from September 28 if its demands were not addressed Following Saturday’s meeting and the government’s commitments, ANSU withdrew the proposed bandh, while stating that it would monitor the implementation of the decisions. In a social media post following the meeting, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said education was a “shared responsibility” and expressed his resolve to work with ANSU to strengthen schools and educational institutions across Arunachal Pradesh. He also appreciated the union for documenting issues on the ground and bringing them before the government. (Photo: Pema Khanduy/Facebook)    

ITANAGAR, SEP 26: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj minister Ojing Tasing on Saturday called for proactive coordination among officials and continuous public engagement to ensure the smooth execution of survey activities for the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), an official report said. Chairing his maiden meeting with heads of departments, administrative officers, and paramilitary personnel here as Chairman of the Empowered High Level Committee on SUMP at Yingkiong in Upper Siang district, Tasing emphasised transparent and responsible communication to build public confidence and address local concerns. Clarifying the scope of the ongoing Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) exercise, the minister said the technical assessments and surveys are meant solely to determine the viability of the proposed project and do not constitute a final decision on its implementation. “The PFR exercise is primarily intended to undertake surveys and technical assessments to ascertain feasibility. Officials must ensure positive, factual, and verified information is communicated through transparent dialogue,” Tasing said. He instructed officials to systematically document public feedback and submit weekly progress reports covering field developments, community interactions, and operational issues. The report said, Upper Siang Deputy Commissioner Ashok Tajo briefed the minister on the current status of activities and assured full coordination from the district administration, while Superintendent of Police Dekio Gumja outlined the security arrangements put in place to facilitate field operations. (Source: PTI)    

ZIRO, SEP 26: Governor Lt Gen KT Parnaik (Retd) on Saturday called upon the youth of Arunachal Pradesh to embrace innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-driven value addition to harness the State’s abundant natural and horticultural resources. The Governor made the observation during his visit to the Naara Aaba Winery at Hong village in Ziro Valley, where he interacted with founder Tage Rita Takhe and members of the winery team. Commending Tage Rita for her entrepreneurial journey, the Governor said Naara Aaba, described as India’s first organic kiwi wine enterprise, is an example of innovation, perseverance and value addition rooted in local resources. He said the success of the enterprise demonstrates how determination, knowledge and innovation can transform challenges into opportunities. Appreciating the winery’s contribution to the rural economy, the Governor said value-addition initiatives help strengthen the agricultural ecosystem by ensuring better returns for farmers. He noted that Arunachal Pradesh is among the leading kiwi-producing regions in the country and said processing local produce can help reduce wastage while creating avenues for income generation and employment. The Governor also observed that the winery has contributed to promoting tourism in Ziro Valley and has showcased the State’s agricultural and entrepreneurial potential beyond Arunachal Pradesh. “The future belongs to those who can convert local strengths into sustainable enterprises, creating jobs for themselves and also for their communities,” the Governor said. He expressed confidence that such ventures would inspire more young entrepreneurs, particularly women, to take up enterprise development and contribute to a self-reliant and economically vibrant Arunachal Pradesh. Tage Rita briefed the Governor on the winery, which was established to create a market for the region’s abundant kiwi produce and address the problem of unsold fruits. The enterprise has since emerged as a model of agri-based entrepreneurship, creating sustainable market linkages for growers, supporting local farmers and generating livelihood opportunities. The Governor wished the Naara Aaba team continued success in promoting local products, supporting farming communities and taking the story of Arunachal Pradesh to national and international markets.    

NAMSAI, SEP 26: The District Library, Namsai has won the Skoch Gold Award for its initiative ‘Library on Wheels – Reaching the Unreached’, which has reached more than 8,000 children across 71 schools and Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) in the district. The award was presented at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi on Saturday to Librarian S. Mukhopadhyay on behalf of the Namsai District Administration. The initiative extends library services and reading resources to children beyond conventional library premises through regular visits to schools and AWCs. It provides access to books and reading activities, encouraging early reading habits and greater engagement with learning. The award recognises the collective efforts of the Namsai District Administration, District Library, Public Libraries Department, participating schools and AWCs, teachers, parents and other stakeholders involved in implementing the programme. The District Library dedicated the recognition to the children, schools, AWCs, teachers, parents and all stakeholders who contributed to the success of the initiative. The achievement highlights the role of public libraries in promoting education, knowledge and a strong reading culture among children. (DIPR)  

ZIRO, SEP 26: The Press Information Bureau (PIB), Itanagar organised a Vartalap on “Responsible Journalism, Informed Citizen & Nasha Mukt Bharat for Better Society” at St. Claret College (Autonomous), Ziro, bringing together working journalists from Lower Subansiri and students of the college’s Mass Communication Department. The programme provided a platform for journalists and aspiring media professionals to deliberate on fact-checking, research, verification, cross-checking of information, media literacy and responsible dissemination of news. In his inaugural address, PIB Itanagar Joint Director Utsav Parmar described fake news as “venom” and emphasised the role of responsible journalism in countering its spread. He highlighted the rapid flow of information through digital and social media platforms and noted that even a small piece of information can quickly reach communities across the State. Parmar encouraged Mass Communication students to actively engage with the media ecosystem and invited them to participate in Doordarshan’s programme “Mera Gaon, Meri Kahani”, which provides an opportunity to document stories from their communities and take local narratives to a wider audience. In his keynote address, Doordarshan Kendra Itanagar News Editor KD Singh stressed the importance of verification before amplification. He said information should be cross-checked, facts verified and data carefully interpreted before being presented to the public. Singh also interacted with the participants on how newspaper headlines can influence public understanding, emphasising the importance of context and accuracy in news reporting. He shared information on the national and state de-addiction helplines 14446 and 14416 and stressed the importance of awareness and timely support in addressing substance abuse. Chief Guest and St. Claret College Principal Dr Fr. Allwyn Mendoz highlighted the growing interest in Mass Communication among young people in remote regions. He emphasised the role of education and communication in understanding diverse perspectives and contributing to national development. Ziro Press Club President Tanyang Pugang thanked PIB Itanagar for bringing the Vartalap initiative to Ziro and providing journalists and students an opportunity to interact with media professionals and discuss contemporary challenges in journalism. The programme also featured an interactive session during which participants raised questions on ethical reporting, information verification and challenges faced by journalists. Journalists from Times Ziro, AP Direct and Amaaba Ziro shared their field experiences, including perspectives on issues concerning women journalists. The participation of working journalists and Mass Communication students provided an opportunity for professional experience to interact with the aspirations of future journalists, reinforcing the importance of responsible journalism, informed citizenship and media literacy in an era of rapid information flow.