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ITANAGAR, AUG 17: The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) staged a protest rally in Itanagar on Monday, raising a range of demands concerning workers’ welfare, social security, wages and service conditions. The organisation also served a two-month ultimatum to the State Government, warning of a democratic movement if its demands are not addressed. The rally began at the Akashdeep-Ganga area and culminated at IG Park, with hundreds of workers and members of various organised and unorganised sector unions participating. Around 20 affiliated unions reportedly joined the demonstration. Addressing the media, BMS Arunachal Pradesh president Ringu Chapo said the rally was part of a nationwide protest organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh on issues concerning workers and employees. He said the demands relate to wages, service conditions, social security, dignity of labour, protection of workers’ interests, decent working conditions and economic security for workers and their families. A memorandum was submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while another was submitted to Chief Minister Pema Khandu seeking action on issues concerning workers in the State. Among the major demands are repeal of the June 2025 order providing a one-time retirement benefit of Rs 3 lakh to contingency employees, Auxiliary Labour Corps (ALCs) and casual labourers who have attained 60 years of age after completing 20 years of service, and modification of the scheme in consultation with trade unions. The BMS also demanded immediate functioning of the Unorganised Workers Welfare Board under the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act; establishment of a Transport Workers Welfare Board; enhancement of the State Government’s share of honorarium for Anganwadi, ASHA and Mid-Day Meal (PM POSHAN) workers; and implementation of equal grade pay for equal work under government establishments. Other demands include provision of sanitation facilities for truck and heavy vehicle drivers on the Hollongi-Itanagar and Banderdewa-Itanagar routes, and payment of 13 months’ wages/salary to field workers and staff under the Power Department and Public Health Engineering & Water Supply Department, including pipe fitters, linemen, wiremen, PB operators, electricians and site junior engineers. Chapo said the organisation expected the State Government to invite BMS representatives for discussions on the demands. “Today is a warning for our issues and we hereby serve two months’ ultimatum from IG Park. In case our genuine issues are not taken up for consideration, we will have no option but to launch a democratic movement in support of our demands,” he said. BMS general secretary Donik Talin also addressed the gathering and spoke to the media on issues concerning the workers’ community.    

YINGKIONG, AUG 17: Three major development projects aimed at strengthening urban sanitation, livelihood infrastructure and education facilities in Yingkiong township were inaugurated on Sunday by 34-Tuting-Yingkiong MLA and Advisor to the Chief Minister Alo Libang in the presence of Upper Siang Deputy Commissioner Talo Jerang. The projects included a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) near the Airfield and burial ground, a Vendor Market at Simar Market and a new Academic Building at Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS), Yingkiong. The inauguration programme was attended by Upper Siang Zilla Parishad Chairperson Api Kombo, BJP Upper Siang district unit president Ojing Peyang, heads of departments, public representatives, officers and officials, students and members of the public. The programme was coordinated by the Urban Affairs Department, Yingkiong Division, under Executive Engineer Ramu Welly. The MRF, developed under the Swachh Bharat Mission, is expected to strengthen solid waste management through systematic segregation and recovery of recyclable materials, promoting cleaner surroundings and scientific management of municipal waste. The Vendor Market at Simar Market has been developed to provide local vendors and small traders with an organised marketplace and facilitate orderly commercial activities and better utilisation of urban public spaces. At GHSS Yingkiong, Libang inaugurated the new Academic Building, which is expected to provide improved academic facilities and a more conducive learning environment for students. Addressing the gathering, Libang recalled his student days at the institution and highlighted its contribution to the educational development of Upper Siang. He said the institution had produced numerous doctors, technocrats, educationists and public leaders who have served the State in various capacities. Urging students to remain disciplined, sincere and focused on their studies, Libang described them as the future torch-bearers of the State and the nation. He encouraged them to uphold the legacy of the institution and contribute positively to society. Libang expressed satisfaction over the completion of the three projects and stressed the need to create durable public assets that directly address people’s needs. He also called for continued coordination among government departments, the district administration, elected representatives and the public to accelerate development in Yingkiong and Upper Siang. Jerang stressed the importance of proper utilisation, operation and maintenance of the newly created assets to ensure that they continue to benefit the public. Deputy Director of School Education Duhon Tekseng said GHSS Yingkiong was established in 1958 and has produced numerous distinguished personalities who have served in government and public life. He noted that Libang himself is an alumnus of the institution and called for renewed focus on quality education, discipline and academic excellence. Libang and Jerang appreciated the efforts of Executive Engineer Ramu Welly and his team of engineers, officers, technical personnel and field staff for completing and commissioning the projects. Welly, in turn, expressed gratitude to the district administration, public representatives, departmental officials, executing agencies and all stakeholders for their cooperation. The inauguration of the three projects marks a significant step in Yingkiong’s development, addressing key areas of solid waste management, market and livelihood infrastructure, and education.      

HAWAI, AUG 17: Arunachal Pradesh Women and Child Development Minister Dasanglu Pul inaugurated a newly constructed RCC school building at Government Upper Primary School (GUPS), Walla, in Anjaw district, officials said. The building was inaugurated in the presence of Anjaw deputy commissioner Millo Kojin and Superintendent of Police Anurag Dwivedi, among others. Pul said the new infrastructure would provide students with a safer and more conducive environment for learning and further strengthen educational facilities in the border district. “The new school building is another important step towards strengthening educational facilities across Anjaw district and providing our children with a safe and conducive environment where they can learn, grow and realise their dreams,” the minister said. She expressed hope that improved infrastructure would encourage students to pursue their education with greater enthusiasm and help them realise their aspirations. The inauguration comes amid efforts to improve educational infrastructure and create better learning facilities for students across Anjaw district. Pul, who also holds the Cultural Affairs and Science and Technology portfolios, later chaired a district level monitoring committee-cum-district level review committee meeting at Hawai and reviewed the implementation of ongoing schemes and projects. During the meeting, the minister directed heads of departments to ensure time-bound resolution of key developmental and implementation issues. She particularly stressed transparency and community participation in selecting beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), directing that social audits and participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions be ensured while finalising beneficiary lists. Pul also emphasised strengthening banking infrastructure in Anjaw and called for effective utilisation of existing community centres and unused government infrastructure to facilitate healthcare services wherever required.      

Aina Darang KOMSING, AUG 14: A quiet journey along a newly constructed village road in Komsing, Siang district, took an unexpected turn on Friday night when a group of local youth encountered a pangolin crossing the road. Recognising the animal and the danger posed by passing vehicles, the youth stopped and rescued it from the road. The animal was carefully observed to assess its health condition and, after it was found to be in suitable condition for release, was safely returned to the wild in the presence of the Gaon Bura, Tayam Taloh. “The pangolin is not commonly seen in our area anymore. To help protect this species, we decided to release it back into the wild. I appeal to anyone who encounters a pangolin to do the same and safely release it back into its habitat. This is an example we are trying to set, and we hope others will follow it,” said Tayam Taloh, Gaon Bura of Komsing. The incident may appear to be a small act of helping an animal in distress, but for one of the world’s most threatened mammals, it carries a wider conservation message. The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is a nocturnal and elusive mammal, making it difficult to observe in the wild. Pangolins are insectivorous, and their main diet consists of ants and termites, earning them the nickname “scaly anteaters.” They are primarily active at night and spend considerable time in burrows, making direct sightings relatively uncommon. Classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, the species continues to face threats from hunting, illegal trade and habitat loss. The Chinese pangolin is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and listed under Appendix I of CITES. From a research perspective, an encounter like this is important because the Chinese pangolin is a difficult animal to observe. Every well-documented sighting can help us understand where the species is still found and how it uses the landscape. Although considerable research has been carried out on pangolins globally, there are still gaps in our understanding of their ecology and population status in India, particularly in the Northeast. Arunachal Pradesh is considered an important stronghold for the Chinese pangolin, making it especially important to understand the species and the habitats it uses while there is still an opportunity to protect it. Without knowing where pangolins occur, how they use their habitat and what threats they face, it becomes difficult to plan effective conservation measures. The Komsing rescue also highlights why community awareness is important for pangolin conservation. In landscapes where villages, roads, agricultural areas and natural habitats exist alongside one another, residents may be among the first people to encounter wildlife. Knowing how to respond when an animal is found can therefore make a real difference. My work on Chinese pangolin conservation in Komsing has also involved working with local Self-Help Groups to link conservation with livelihoods, including adding pangolin conservation messages to the packaging of locally made pickles. These efforts are gradually encouraging community members to take an active role in pangolin conservation. Similar community-led efforts have also emerged elsewhere in the Siang landscape. In 2023, farmers in Silluk village rescued a Chinese pangolin from a poacher and helped return it safely to the wild. The recent rescue in Komsing is another encouraging example of how local awareness can translate into action when communities encounter wildlife. For the community, the rescue demonstrates how simple actions recognising wildlife, preventing harm and allowing an animal to return safely to its habitat can contribute to conservation. Pangolin habitat is not always far from people. These animals can occur close to villages, agricultural areas and other places where people live and work. In the past, people and wildlife may have shared these landscapes with fewer conflicts. But as roads, settlements and other changes continue to reshape the landscape, an important question remains: Can people and pangolins continue to coexist in the same places today? In the case of the Chinese pangolin, every encounter is an opportunity not only to protect an individual animal, but also to learn more about a species that remains difficult to see and increasingly important to conserve.      

PASIGHAT, AUG 17: The Department of Mass Communication, Arunachal Pradesh University (APU), organised an Orientation-cum-Induction Programme for its first-semester students at the Seminar Hall of the Academic Block on Monday, welcoming the department’s second batch since its establishment in August 2025. Head of Department Dr Prem Taba urged the students to uphold truth, voice and accountability as the core principles of journalism and encouraged them to remain curious, honest, disciplined and respectful in their professional journey. Calling upon the students to document the stories of Arunachal Pradesh and the Northeast, Taba said the region remained underrepresented in national media and urged aspiring media professionals to tell its stories with accuracy and depth. He also briefed the students on APU, established in 2022 as the state’s first state university. Recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the university currently has 11 operational departments and aims to provide quality higher education to students within the state. Taba outlined the department’s two-year MA programme, which offers a postgraduate diploma exit option after the first year under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The programme combines communication theory, media history, law and ethics with practical training in print, broadcast and digital media, with an emphasis on development communication. Pasighat-based photographer and Studio 911 owner Ashish Gupta was the expert speaker. Sharing his experience of building a photography studio from modest beginnings, Gupta told the students, “A photograph is merely the product; your professionalism is the actual business.” He encouraged students to engage directly in the creative process rather than wait for ideal opportunities, learn from mistakes and develop strong technical skills. He also highlighted entrepreneurship opportunities in photography, advertising and filmmaking. The programme began with an ice-breaker session titled ‘The Question Jar’, during which freshers shared their views on campus life, career aspirations and cultural heritage, including local traditions and practices. A short film titled Paradox, produced and directed by third-semester students, was screened, followed by an interaction with its director and writer Meena Taku. A communication game curated by guest faculty Doli Ete was also conducted to provide experiential learning on message dilution. Guest faculty Mitinam Siram welcomed the gathering and encouraged students to maintain academic discipline and participate actively in departmental activities. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Assistant Professor Dr Kombong Darang, who acknowledged the support of the university administration and stressed the importance of regular attendance and active participation inside and outside the classroom for students’ overall professional development.  

ZIRO, AUG 17: The National Service Scheme (NSS) Unit and Red Ribbon Club of St. Claret College, Ziro, in collaboration with the Blood Centre of Gyati Takka Zonal General Hospital (GTZGH), organised an Outdoor Voluntary Blood Donation Camp on the college campus on Monday. The camp saw 32 prospective donors, including nine males and 23 females, undergo preliminary health screening. A total of 21 units of blood were collected, comprising eight units from male donors and 13 from female donors. The collection included eight units of A+, four of B+, six of O+ and three of AB+ blood groups. No adverse donor reactions were reported. The screening process also helped identify two cases of hypertension and four cases of anaemia. The medical team conducted blood-group testing for all participants and counselled those requiring medical attention, advising them to seek appropriate follow-up care. The camp was coordinated by NSS Programme Officers Jeremia Modi, Nending Sumpi and Tage Tagyung, along with Red Ribbon Club Coordinator Withoam Socia. The organisers expressed gratitude to the student donors, volunteers and GTZGH medical team for their participation and support in making the blood donation drive a success.  

TAWANG, AUG 17: District Police Tawang conducted a cleanliness drive at the Gyalwa Tsangyang Gyatso High Altitude Outdoor Stadium on Monday as part of its community policing initiative. The drive, led by Tawang Superintendent of Police Tasi Darang, was organised following the conclusion of the Merag Lama Lodroe Gyatso Independence Cup 2026 Football Tournament on August 15. The stadium premises had accumulated waste and garbage during the tournament. The police team, comprising Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Togum Gonggo, Reserve Officer Genden Thupten, Assistant Reserve Officer T.D. Sermo, Company Havildar Major Karsang Monpa and personnel of the Reserve Police Line, joined the SP in collecting waste from the stadium premises. The initiative sought to promote civic responsibility and environmental awareness while reinforcing the message that maintaining public spaces is a collective responsibility. The drive also reflected the community and tourism policing approach of the district police, aimed at strengthening police-public engagement and ensuring that Tawang remains a clean, safe and welcoming destination for residents and visitors.