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YINGKIONG : The Sikiing Kojee Charitable Society (SKCS), a non-governmental organisation in Upper Siang district, organised the ‘Nasha Mukti Yuva for Viksit Bharat’ programme at Royal Siang School on Saturday to raise awareness among youth about the harmful effects of substance abuse and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Held under the theme ‘Create, Perform and Inspire’, the programme is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. It featured cultural performances, skits, poetry recitations, painting and poster-making competitions, enabling students to creatively promote the message of a drug-free society. Upper Siang District Information and Public Relations Officer Yalik Jerang attended the programme as the chief guest. Addressing the gathering, she highlighted the Prime Minister’s vision of achieving a Nasha Mukt Bharat as part of the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047 and stressed the crucial role of youth in realising that vision. She urged students to stay away from drugs, embrace healthy lifestyles and become responsible citizens committed to nation-building. Describing the younger generation as the nation’s greatest asset, Jerang said quality education, discipline and strong moral values were essential for building a peaceful and progressive society. She also administered the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan pledge to all participants. Jerang commended SKCS Chairperson Dr Mity Jopir Apang and her team for organising the programme and providing a platform for young people to spread awareness through creative expression. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Apang said the programme was organised in partnership with and under the guidance of the District Youth Officer of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Pasighat. She informed that youth enrolment on the campaign portal was being carried out in mission mode to maximise participation across the district and reaffirmed the Society’s commitment to supporting the Government of India’s vision of a healthy, empowered and drug-free youth population. Earlier, Royal Siang School teacher P Lama welcomed the participants and urged students to stay away from drugs, uphold strong moral values and focus on becoming responsible members of society. The programme was attended by SKCS members, invited guests, faculty members of Royal Siang School and a large number of students from Yingkiong and Jengging. (DIPR)        

SIVASAGAR : Namsai Helping Hands has extended flood relief assistance worth ₹1.20 lakh to flood-affected families in Assam’s Sivasagar district by distributing essential relief materials at a relief camp. The relief initiative followed a public donation drive organised by the organisation at SYMP Ground, Namsai, on July 26, during which ₹51,130 was raised through public contributions. Members of Namsai Helping Hands further contributed ₹70,000 from their own funds, taking the total value of the relief assistance to ₹1.20 lakh. During the visit, the volunteers also met Assam MLA Akhil Gogoi, who appreciated the team’s humanitarian effort and thanked them for extending support to flood-affected families despite the challenging situation. Members of the organisation said that while their contribution was modest compared to the scale of the disaster, it reflected their solidarity and concern for those affected. Namsai Helping Hands also expressed gratitude to all donors, volunteers and well-wishers whose contributions made the relief mission possible, while reaffirming its commitment to serving communities during times of crisis.    

TUTING : The Spear Head Division under the Spear Corps distributed 90 solar lamps to students across Tuting as part of the Indian Army’s ongoing civic outreach initiatives in the remote border region. The solar lamps were distributed among students of Siang Valley Residential English Medium School, Kindergarten Primary School, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (NSCB) School, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) School, Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) Tuting, Government Primary School (GPS) Pekong, Government Town Secondary School (GTSS) Tuting, Higher Secondary School (HSS) Tuting, GPS Ningguing, GPS Kugging and GPS Norbulling. The initiative, carried out in coordination with local school authorities, aims to address the long-standing challenge of erratic electricity supply in the region, which has often limited students’ study hours after sunset. The solar lamps are expected to enable uninterrupted evening study, improve learning outcomes and reduce dependence on unreliable power supply. The Indian Army said it remains committed to supporting communities in frontier areas through initiatives extending beyond security, including education, healthcare and community welfare, while strengthening national integration in border regions. School authorities and students expressed gratitude for the initiative, saying the solar lamps would make a meaningful difference to students’ daily studies in an area where basic infrastructure continues to pose challenges. The Army reaffirmed its commitment to continuing such welfare measures across the Tuting sub-division in support of the region’s development. (DIPR)

NAMSAI : Arunachal University of Studies (AUS), Namsai organised an awareness programme under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan on Friday, reaffirming its commitment to promoting a healthy and drug-free society. The highlight of the programme was a street play (Nukkad Natak) staged by AUS students, which highlighted the harmful effects of substance abuse and encouraged people to adopt a healthy and responsible lifestyle. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from students, faculty members, staff and members of the local community. Addressing the gathering, AUS Vice-Chancellor Prof Ajeya Jha and AUS Rector Prof D S Hernwal urged the youth to become ambassadors of a Drug-Free India and contribute actively towards building a healthier society. The programme concluded with participants taking a collective pledge to support the vision of a drug-free nation.

TAWANG : Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday called for stronger regional cooperation among the Northeastern states to address emerging challenges affecting children, including trafficking, online exploitation, substance abuse, child marriage and cross-border vulnerabilities. Addressing the inaugural session of the North East State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) Convention 2026 at Tawang, Khandu described the gathering as a historic milestone, marking the first occasion when all State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights from the Northeast have come together on a common platform dedicated to child rights protection and promotion. Welcoming chairpersons, members and member secretaries of State Commissions, representatives of national institutions, senior officials, development partners and civil society organisations, the Chief Minister said Tawang, known for its message of peace, compassion and harmony, was an appropriate venue for deliberations on safeguarding the future of children. Khandu said child welfare is the true measure of good governance and asserted that the success of any government should not be judged only by economic growth and infrastructure development, but by how effectively it protects vulnerable sections of society. He emphasised that every child deserves a safe environment free from violence, exploitation, abuse and discrimination, along with access to education, healthcare, nutrition and equal opportunities. Highlighting Arunachal Pradesh’s initiatives for child welfare, particularly for the girl child, Khandu said more than 15,500 girls have benefited from financial assistance for higher education under the Dulari Kanya Scheme, with an investment of over Rs 38 crore. He also informed that more than 134 awareness programmes have been conducted across the state under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative. He further stated that the state government has allocated Rs 3.3 crore under the Girls Health and Hygiene Scheme for 2026-27 to provide sanitary napkins to over 25,000 beneficiaries. Stressing that child welfare begins with maternal care, Khandu highlighted various maternal and child health initiatives launched by the Central government. He said over 38,000 beneficiaries have received support under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, while more than 34,000 beneficiaries are being assisted through nutrition-related interventions. Under Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, over 1.8 lakh women and children are covered, with 152 Anganwadi Centres upgraded and another 125 being developed under the Adopt an Anganwadi initiative. On strengthening child protection mechanisms, the Chief Minister said over 2,500 vulnerable children are receiving sponsorship support under Mission Vatsalya, while 2,479 children are benefiting from monthly assistance of Rs 4,000 through sponsorship, foster care and aftercare schemes. He also highlighted the role of the 24×7 Child Helpline 1098, One Stop Centres in all 25 districts and Women Helpline 181 as important support systems for children and women in distress. Calling child protection a collective responsibility, Khandu urged schools, families, law enforcement agencies, judiciary, health workers, community leaders, faith-based organisations and civil society groups to work together to create a safe and nurturing environment for children. Highlighting the unique geographical and social challenges of the Northeast, he said issues such as trafficking, online exploitation and substance abuse often cross state boundaries, making inter-state coordination essential. He expressed hope that the convention would facilitate the exchange of best practices, strengthen implementation of child protection laws, improve coordination in cases involving missing and trafficked children, and develop effective responses to emerging online threats. Urging participants to translate discussions into concrete outcomes, Khandu said the success of the convention would be measured by the positive changes brought to the lives of children across the region. The Chief Minister congratulated the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR), led by Chairperson Ratan Anya, for organising the convention and thanked participating commissions, institutions, experts, officials and development partners for their contribution towards advancing child rights. A North East SCPCR Convention Souvenir was also released during the inaugural programme. The two-day convention is being chaired by Women and Child Development Minister Dasanglu Pul. The inaugural ceremony was attended by Advisor Home Mutchu Mithi as guest of honour, Advisor Women and Child Development Tsering Lhamu, Tawang MLA Namgey Tsering as special invitees, along with other dignitaries.

ITANAGAR : The Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) has successfully launched a steel bridge at Huri in Kurung Kumey district, an official report said on Friday. Huri is a remote border village located in the Damin circle near the Line of Actual Control with China. The crucial connectivity project was executed under the direct supervision of BRTF Huri Officer Commanding (OC) Sandeep Tiwari, in close coordination with the Kurung Kumey district administration. Highlighting the progress of the restoration work, Tiwari said, “The successful launching of the steel structure marks a major milestone in restoring full connectivity to the region. The remaining works are expected to be completed within the next 3 to 4 days, after which the Damin-Huri road will be reopened for the movement of all types of vehicles.” Kurung Kumey deputy commissioner Cheechung Chukhu said the bridge will be complete in all respects within the first week of August. The vital border link was snapped on July 13 when a sudden surge in the Kumey River, triggered by heavy rain in the upper reaches, caused devastating flash floods that washed away the 66-metre bailey hanging bridge connecting Damin and Huri. The disruption temporarily cut off Huri village and surrounding border outposts, impacting movement and supply lines. While temporary log crossings were initially constructed to enable essential pedestrian and emergency relief access, the launching of the permanent steel bridge will ensure heavy and all-weather vehicular movement along the strategically sensitive border zone. According to the report, engineering teams are working on a war footing to complete the approach work and structural finishing within the week. (Source: PTI)