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Mingkeng Osik PASIGHAT, SEP 5: Teachers across East Siang district observed Teachers’ Day on Saturday by wearing black badges to express solidarity with teachers’ organisations raising concerns over the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) requirement for in-service teachers. The observance followed an appeal by the District Executive Committee of the Arunachal Teachers’ Association (ATA), East Siang district unit. In a circular issued on September 4, the association urged teachers to participate peacefully while maintaining unity and dignity and highlighting concerns arising from the recent Supreme Court judgment on the TET requirement. The TET requirement was introduced following the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, which prescribed minimum qualifications for teachers appointed to elementary schools. The issue has since emerged as a concern among several serving teachers, particularly those who joined government service before the requirement came into effect. Speaking during the observance, ATA East Siang district unit general secretary Kalen Komut said association members had visited several schools across the district to interact with teachers and understand their concerns. Komut said many serving teachers had devoted 15 to 20 years to the profession and contributed significantly to educating generations of students, including those who later became doctors, engineers and professionals in various fields. He expressed concern that requiring long-serving teachers to appear for an eligibility examination at this stage could create anxiety within the teaching community. He said preparing for an examination while continuing regular teaching duties could also divert teachers’ attention between job security and classroom responsibilities, potentially affecting the teaching-learning process. At Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Upper Primary School, TGT Mary Tayeng raised concerns over uncertainty regarding the examination syllabus. She questioned whether experienced teachers would have to prepare under the existing or a revised syllabus and said senior teachers could face difficulties preparing for a competitive examination after several years in service. Tayeng also expressed concern over the possible impact on schools if serving teachers fail the examination, particularly regarding the availability of experienced educators and continuity of classroom teaching. Similarly, Nasi Darang of Government Secondary School, Mirbuk, said serving government teachers should not necessarily be subjected to the same requirement as newly appointed teachers. With only a few years left in service, Darang said the issue had created uncertainty among experienced educators and advocated that the TET requirement be applied primarily to newly appointed teachers. Other teachers, including Osor Jamoh of Mirbuk School and W.R. Singh of Balwadi School, also shared their views during the interaction. The black-badge observance was held in solidarity with the All India Primary Teachers’ Association (AIPTA), All India Federation of Teachers’ Organisations (AIFTO), ATA Central Executive Committee and other teachers’ organisations that have raised concerns over the implications of the Supreme Court judgment. The East Siang ATA appealed to teachers to participate peacefully and in a disciplined manner and share photographs of the observance on social media to collectively highlight the concerns of the teaching fraternity. For the participating teachers, the black badge symbolised concerns over the application of the TET requirement to experienced in-service educators and its possible implications for job security, teacher morale and continuity of education in government schools.  

NAMSAI, SEP 5: The Arunachal Pradesh Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) on Saturday held a consultative meeting with Heads of Departments (HoDs) in Namsai to discuss administrative challenges and measures to improve the efficiency and delivery of public services. ARC Chairman Pramod Jain IAS (Retd) chaired the meeting held at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner, Namsai. Deputy Commissioner Lobsang Tsering, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and HoDs of various departments attended the meeting. In his address, Tsering highlighted key administrative challenges faced in the district, including shortages of officers and supporting staff, inter-departmental coordination, procedural efficiency and timely delivery of public services. The participating HoDs shared their views and suggestions on administrative issues and challenges confronting their respective departments. Jain emphasised the need for efficient, transparent and citizen-centric governance, improved inter-departmental coordination, optimal utilisation of resources and simplification of administrative procedures. He encouraged the officers to identify practical measures to address existing challenges and enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of government departments.      

AAPSU calls stakeholders’ meet on Sept 12 ITANAGAR, SEPT 4: Tension gripped Bordumsa in Changlang district on Friday after a hearing under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls turned violent, prompting the local administration to impose prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Bordumsa Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Sabadam Tayang said the hearing concerning Bijoypur was initially held at the Panchayat Hall on September 3 to dispose of claims and objections filed under Forms 6 and 7. The hearing was adjourned following disruptions by some youths and rescheduled for September 4 at the ADC office. According to Tayang, when the hearing resumed on Friday, a group of protesters under the banner of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), demanding deletion of Chakma and Hajong voters enrolled after 2006, allegedly broke through the office gate, entered the premises and disrupted the proceedings. He said the protesters vandalised the office premises and allegedly manhandled him, besides pelting stones at members of the Chakma and Hajong communities who had gathered for the hearing. Counter stone-pelting followed, leaving an AAPSU volunteer with a head injury, he said. Tayang said the situation was under control and heavy police forces had been deployed in the area. AAPSU president Meje Taku, however, alleged that a “high-level committee” of the union visiting Bordumsa was targeted during the incident. He claimed that AAPSU members and activists assisting and monitoring the SIR process were attacked, alleging that knives and daos were used against them. Taku dismissed claims that injuries were caused by police tear gas or firearms as “AI-generated propaganda” and demanded that no First Information Reports (FIRs) be registered against AAPSU members or activists. “They started the fight, and we are going to finish it. We gave them shelter, water, and food as guests, but today they are targeting the masters of the house,” Taku said. AAPSU demanded the immediate arrest of those allegedly responsible for the violence and suspension of the ongoing SIR exercise in all Chakma-Hajong-inhabited areas. The union also sought the immediate suspension of officials it alleged were showing “favouritism and nepotism” towards the Chakma and Hajong communities. Taku said AAPSU would submit a list of officials against whom action was being sought and warned that failure to address the union’s demands could compel it to resort to further democratic means of protest. Meanwhile, AAPSU has convened an extensive stakeholders’ meeting at the DK Convention Hall in Itanagar on September 12 to deliberate on the Bordumsa incident and decide its future course of action. The union has invited community-based organisations, district students’ unions, students’ wings, indigenous apex bodies, political parties and other stakeholders to participate in the meeting. Taku urged all concerned organisations and stakeholders to attend the meeting without fail. The All India Chakma Students’ Union (AICSU) president Drisyamuni Chakma denied the allegation of an attack on AAPSU members and activists and questioned the involvement of AAPSU members in the ongoing SIR process. The administration has deployed additional security personnel in the area as authorities continue to monitor the situation. (With inputs from PTI)    

LIKABALI, SEP 4: A team of Galo legislators led by Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Kento Jini on Friday visited Hime, Germe and nearby villages in Lower Siang district to assess the prevailing situation and interact with residents amid continuing concerns following the recent Hime-Bodoti incident along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. The team comprised Deputy Speaker of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Kardo Nyigyor, MLAs Pesi Jilen and Tojir Kadu, representatives of the Galo Youth Organisation (GYO), Lower Siang Students’ Union and Galo Welfare Society (GWS), along with officials of the district administration and police. During the visit, the legislators and representatives interacted with local residents, heard their concerns and apprehensions, and reviewed the ground situation. They emphasised the need to maintain peace, harmony and normalcy in the area. The visit comes in the backdrop of the August 10 confrontation at Hime, which left several people injured and renewed tensions over the longstanding land and boundary-related issue involving Hime and Bodoti. Jini described the matter as highly sensitive and called for restraint, dialogue and mutual understanding among all stakeholders. He stressed that sustained engagement was essential to prevent further escalation and work towards a peaceful and lasting solution. The legislators also reaffirmed their commitment to working with local communities, civil society organisations, the district administration and security authorities to address concerns through dialogue and democratic means. Appealing to all sections of society to maintain peace, the team urged people to refrain from actions that could disturb public order or aggravate the situation. It stressed that the larger interests of the people and peaceful coexistence among communities must remain the priority. The visit was aimed at strengthening communication with affected communities, understanding the ground situation and promoting collective efforts towards a peaceful, stable and lasting resolution of the Hime-Bodoti issue.      

ITANAGAR, SEP 4: Naharlagun Police have arrested a person and recovered 23 stolen LPG cylinders, officials said on Friday. ICR Naharlagun SP Nyelam Nega said the breakthrough came after a case was registered under the BNS following a series of LPG cylinder thefts in the locality. A police team analysed the modus operandi and pattern of the thefts, leading to the identification of the accused as 30-year-old Arjun Juga, a resident of IG Park Colony here. Juga was arrested from Juli Road on Thursday, the SP said. “Following the interrogation of the accused, multiple coordinated raids were conducted at different locations, leading to the recovery of all 23 stolen LPG cylinders,” Nega said. The police team was led by Naharlagun police station officer-in-charge inspector Krishnendu Dev and others under the supervision of SDPO Rishi Longdo. Expressing concern over crimes targeting unattended properties, Nega appealed to citizens to remain vigilant and keep a close watch on their neighbourhoods. He said habitual offenders often target locked and unattended houses to commit burglaries. PTI    

PASIGHAT, SEP 4: Severe erosion triggered by flooding in the Siang River has caused extensive loss of agricultural land in several villages under Mebo Sub-Division of East Siang district, raising concerns over the livelihood and future of affected farming families. According to villagers, large areas of cash crops and bamboo groves have already been washed away, while agricultural fields in Borguli village, including Wet Rice Cultivation (WRC) areas, are increasingly coming under threat from the advancing river. Speaking to the Pasighat News team, local resident Otil Tayeng pointed to the extent of the damage and said he had already lost around eight acres of bamboo grove, which had been an important source of income for his family. Tayeng said his agricultural land was the primary means of livelihood for his family and helped him support his children’s education. With the erosion continuing to advance, he expressed apprehension that the remaining land could also be swept away by the river. He said the erosion in the area began in 2021 and has intensified over the years, causing increasing concern among farmers and residents living along vulnerable stretches of the riverbank. The affected villagers have appealed to Mebo MLA Oken Tayeng and Chief Minister Pema Khandu to treat the issue on priority and initiate permanent embankment reinforcement and other effective flood and erosion protection measures. With farmland and livelihoods continuing to remain at risk, the villagers stressed the need for an immediate and sustainable solution to prevent further loss of agricultural land and property to the Siang River.