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PASIGHAT, SEP 17: The Pasighat Municipal Council (PMC) on Thursday launched the month-long ‘Seva Mera Yogdan 2026’ and ‘Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2026’ campaigns with a flag-off ceremony at the PMC office compound in Gumin Nagar. Being conducted from September 17 to October 17, the campaign seeks to strengthen citizen participation in cleanliness, sanitation, environmental protection, plantation, beautification of public spaces and civic responsibility. The SHS 2026 campaign is being observed nationwide under the theme ‘Swachhata Mein Sahbhag; Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat’. The event was attended by 38-Pasighat East (ST) Assembly Constituency MLA Tapi Darang, Assistant Commissioner Pasighat Makbul Siram, PMC Chief Councillor Tagom Padung, Deputy Chief Councillor Kamin Lego, ward councillors, municipal officials and other stakeholders. Darang flagged off vehicles to be deployed across Pasighat during the cleanliness drive. Addressing the gathering, he called for greater citizen participation and appreciated the PMC councillors and municipal team for their efforts to improve civic services. He also urged the PMC to extend the cleanliness initiative to BPGH and other hospitals in Pasighat, stressing the need for proper handling and disposal of hazardous biomedical waste. Referring to the birth anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which coincided with the launch, Darang acknowledged development initiatives undertaken during his tenure, particularly in infrastructure and road connectivity in the Northeast and Arunachal Pradesh. PMC Chief Councillor Tagom Padung outlined the operational modalities of the drive and the deployment and management of the newly launched vehicles for public services during the programme. The PMC has prepared an action plan and activity calendar covering all eight municipal wards. Activities will focus on identifying and transforming Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs), cleaning and beautifying public spaces, plantation, environmental initiatives, citizen mobilisation, awareness on solid waste management and source segregation, and community participation through shramdaan. Under ‘Seva Mera Yogdan 2026’, ward councillors, municipal officials, self-help groups, non-governmental organisations, youth groups, market associations, educational institutions and residents will participate in plantation, beautification and awareness drives, besides activities such as Walkathon and Plog Run. The PMC has appealed to citizens and stakeholders to actively participate in the campaign and contribute towards a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Pasighat under the broader vision of Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat and Swachh Pasighat Abhiyan (De:nam Anam). (DIPR)  

YACHULI, SEP 17: The Keyi Panyor district administration has stepped up preparations to ensure a clean, safe and welcoming transit experience for visitors travelling through the district to attend the Ziro Festival of Music (ZFM) 2026, scheduled from September 24 to 27 in Ziro Valley, Lower Subansiri district. As a major transit route to Ziro Valley, Keyi Panyor is expected to witness increased movement of visitors and VIPs through market centres including Potin, Yazali, Yachuli and Joram. A preparatory meeting was held on Thursday under the chairmanship of Keyi Panyor Deputy Commissioner Ankita Mishra, IAS, in the presence of Superintendent of Police Dr Akanksha Milind Tamgadge, IPS, heads of departments, administrative officers, Market Welfare Committees, PRI members and other stakeholders. As part of the preparations, awareness drives will be conducted on September 18 and 19 for hotels, restaurants, eateries and shops, focusing on cleanliness, food hygiene, sanitation and proper waste disposal. A mass social service from Potin to Joram Anya Gate will be held on September 21 in convergence with the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign. Enforcement and inspection drives will also be conducted to ensure compliance with hygiene, sanitation and waste-management norms. The administration has planned welcome boards and colour-coded dustbins at prominent locations along the transit route. Traffic and law-and-order arrangements, particularly at Potin, will be strengthened, while vulnerable road stretches will be repaired to ensure safe traffic movement. The administration will also promote registered homestays and tourist lodges to facilitate accommodation for visitors and showcase the tourism potential of Keyi Panyor. The DC directed all concerned departments and stakeholders to maintain close coordination and complete preparations well ahead of the festival. Stakeholders expressed their commitment to ensuring a clean, safe and well-managed transit route, along with adequate visitor facilities and warm hospitality for those travelling through Keyi Panyor to attend ZFM 2026. (DIPR)  

LONGDING, SEP 17: The District Urban Development Agency (DUDA) Governing Body held its September meeting in Longding on Thursday to review issues related to urban development, sanitation and civic management in the town. The meeting was chaired by Longding Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairperson, DUDA, in the presence of the Member Secretary and other members of the governing body. A major focus of the meeting was solid waste management (SWM), including the selection of suitable non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or agencies to implement waste management services under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode. The members also discussed enforcement of spot fines and penalties for littering and public urination at parking lots and other public places in Longding town. Non-payment of SWM user fees was another issue deliberated upon, with the members stressing appropriate action against defaulters to ensure effective and sustainable waste management services. The meeting underscored the need for public participation and responsible civic behaviour to promote cleanliness and create a healthier urban environment in Longding. (DIPR)  

ZIRO, SEP 17: The Lower Subansiri district unit of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) organised a district workers’ convention at Bulla Farm Conference Hall, Old Ziro, on Wednesday. Rajya Sabha MP Tai Tagak, Lower Subansiri Deputy Commissioner Oli Perme and former minister Tage Taki attended the convention, which brought together workers and staff from various government and non-government departments across the district. The convention focused on labour welfare, workers’ rights and collective development under the BMS philosophy of ‘Rashtra Hit, Udyog Hit, Mazdoor Hit’. The programme began with ceremonial lamp lighting, followed by a welcome address by BMS Lower Subansiri District Unit Secretary Yom Bada. A cultural presentation by the Public Works Department (PWD) added to the programme. The gathering was addressed by the BMS Arunachal Pradesh president, AAPWU-cum-ZPM Lempia Lower Subansiri District Unit president and other dignitaries, including former minister Tage Taki, who is also Chairman of the Arunachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (APB&OCWWB). The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by BMS Lower Subansiri District Unit president Bullo Babu, followed by community distribution and fellowship activities. The organisers expressed appreciation to trade union representatives, departmental staff and workers for their participation. (DIPR)  

ZIRO, SEP 17: Rajya Sabha MP Tai Tagak on Thursday chaired a review meeting on the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision at the Golden Jubilee Conference Hall of the District Secretariat, Ziro. Organised by the Lower Subansiri district administration, the meeting brought together departmental heads and senior administrative officers to review local strategies and align district-level development efforts with the broader objectives of ‘Viksit Bharat’. Lower Subansiri Deputy Commissioner Oli Perme welcomed the participants, following which district officials made presentations on key areas of the initiative. The discussions focused on youth education and skill development through My Bharat, poverty alleviation and access to basic amenities, women-led development, modernisation of agriculture and upgradation of public infrastructure through technology. Addressing the meeting, Tagak stressed the importance of inter-departmental coordination and effective implementation at the grassroots level. He urged the administration to keep community needs at the centre of development initiatives and ensure that the benefits of government programmes reach households directly. The meeting concluded with remarks by the MP, followed by a vote of thanks proposed by Old Ziro SDO Hage Tarung. (DIPR)  

ITANAGAR, SEP 17: Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bosiram Siram has congratulated Prof Ashan Riddi on his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of Arunachal Pradesh University (APU), and extended his best wishes for a successful tenure. In a statement, Siram described Prof Riddi as a distinguished academician and scholar from Arunachal Pradesh with nearly 27 years of teaching, academic and research experience. He said Prof Riddi’s long association with Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), where he served as Professor in the Department of History, reflected his commitment to higher education, research and the intellectual development of students. Siram highlighted Prof Riddi’s research on the history, culture and tribal resistance movements of Northeast India and Arunachal Pradesh, saying his academic work had contributed to the documentation and understanding of the region’s historical and cultural heritage. He also referred to Prof Riddi’s experience in academic administration, including his tenure as Director of the Centre for Distance and Online Education at RGU. Siram expressed confidence that Prof Riddi would provide “visionary, inclusive and progressive leadership” to APU at a time when the state requires a stronger knowledge ecosystem, greater research orientation and wider opportunities for students and scholars. He hoped that under Prof Riddi’s leadership, APU would develop into a centre of academic excellence, research and innovation while contributing to the preservation of Arunachal Pradesh’s indigenous heritage.      

Staff Reporter ITANAGAR, SEP 16: The All Arunachal Pradesh Contractual Nursing Officers Association (AAPCNOA) has demanded modification of the new Recruitment Rules (RR) 2024, seeking a 70:30 recruitment formula, with 70 percent reserved for the direct absorption of contractual Nursing Officers and 30 percent for fresh candidates through competitive recruitment. Addressing media persons at the Arunachal Press Club here on Wednesday, AAPCNOA president Rumik Agum appealed to the state government to intervene in the matter and reconsider the provisions of the Recruitment Rules introduced in 2024. Claiming that the new RR 2024 has put 636 contractual Nursing Officers serving across the state under the National Health Mission (NHM) at a disadvantage, she said the earlier system provided for seniority-based absorption into regular government service. Several serving Nursing Officers, she added, have completed around eight to nine years of service under the existing arrangement. However, the new Recruitment Rules notified on March 6, 2024, provide for 100 percent direct recruitment through the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC). Agum said the provision was unfair to serving contractual nurses, as after years of service it would be difficult for them to compete with fresh candidates in written examinations. She added that due to their demanding duties, contractual nurses also find it difficult to get adequate time to prepare for competitive examinations. She clarified that the association does not oppose APPSC recruitment or competitive examinations, but said existing contractual employees should not be disadvantaged during the transition. The association proposed a 70:30 recruitment formula, with 70 percent posts filled through seniority-based absorption in a phased manner and 30 percent through direct recruitment by the APPSC, until all eligible contractual Nursing Officers are absorbed. It said the arrangement would also ensure opportunities for fresh candidates. Agum further claimed that many of the 636 contractual nurses have crossed the official age limit for government recruitment and are also managing family responsibilities, placing them at a disadvantage compared to fresh graduates. She also questioned how patient wards in district hospitals across the state would be managed if serving nurses were required to leave their duties to appear for examinations. Recalling their service during the COVID-19 pandemic, she said many contractual nurses worked continuously for long hours, sometimes for nearly 30 hours without food, and highlighted the health challenges faced by them due to prolonged and demanding duties. The association also sought a minimum monthly salary of Rs 50,000, citing inflation and the workload shouldered by contractual staff. It urged the government to withhold the APPSC examination for Nursing Officers until the recruitment rules are amended and clarity is provided on the future of serving contractual employees. The association appealed to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Health Minister Biyuram Wahge and the Health Department to address their concerns and provide a concrete solution.