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NARI : A National Library Awareness Programme was organised at Nari on Friday to mark National Reading Day and launch National Reading Month 2026, which will be observed from June 19 to July 18. The programme was organised by the North East Foundation for Health Education and Livelihood Skills (NE-HEALS) with support from the Nari sub-divisional administration. It aimed to promote a reading culture, strengthen library usage among students and encourage lifelong learning through books and knowledge resources. Padma Shri awardee Sathyanarayanan Mundayoor, popularly known as Uncle Moosa, attended the event as the chief guest. Addressing the gathering, he underscored the transformative power of reading in shaping character, broadening perspectives and nurturing responsible citizens. He encouraged students to develop a daily reading habit and make libraries an integral part of their learning journey. Namsai District Library Librarian Saumyen Mukhopadhyay, who attended as the guest of honour, highlighted the role of libraries in supporting education and urged students to visit libraries regularly to enhance their knowledge and critical thinking abilities. Nari Circle Officer Tage Asha emphasised the importance of reading for academic success and personality development and encouraged students to make effective use of available library resources. Alumnus of Nari Higher Secondary School Marge Sora shared his personal experiences and motivated students to embrace reading as a tool for self-improvement and future success. As part of the programme, students took a reading oath, pledging to read regularly and promote the habit among their peers. Volunteers from Uncle Moosa’s team also presented dramatic storytelling sessions, poem recitations and other literary performances that engaged the audience. The organisers announced a month-long series of literary activities during National Reading Month, including reading clubs, story-writing and poetry competitions, dramatic presentations, creative writing workshops and library orientation sessions. Students participating in intra-school and inter-school literary events will be felicitated on July 19. More than 200 students, teachers and community members participated in the programme, marking the beginning of a month-long campaign to promote reading and literary engagement in the region. (DIPR)  

DEOMALI : Environment and Forest and Tirap, Changlang and Longding Affairs (DoTCL) Minister Wangki Lowang on Friday conducted an extensive inspection of roads and bridges damaged by recent flash floods in Deomali subdivision. Accompanied by Deomali Additional Deputy Commissioner B. Tawsik, the minister visited several affected locations to assess the extent of damage caused by the floods, which have severely impacted road infrastructure, bridges and communication links across a number of villages and localities. During the inspection, Lowang reviewed the ground situation with officials of the concerned departments and stressed the need for immediate restoration of connectivity and essential public services. He noted that the widespread damage had disrupted transportation and affected the daily lives of residents in the affected areas. Directing the departments concerned to initiate urgent restoration measures, the minister emphasised coordinated efforts among all line departments to expedite repair works and restore normalcy at the earliest. Reaffirming the government’s commitment to public welfare, Lowang assured that all possible assistance would be extended to affected communities to mitigate hardships and strengthen infrastructure resilience against future natural calamities. Meanwhile, the district administration and line departments have begun preliminary damage assessments and are working towards the early restoration of roads, bridges and other essential public infrastructure damaged by the flash floods.  

LIKABALI : A workshop-cum-awareness programme on Udyam Registration and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) registration was organised by the Block Mission Management Unit (BMMU), Likabali, at the Circuit House Conference Hall here to create awareness among entrepreneurs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs on business registration and food safety compliance. The programme was attended by Likabali Block Mission Manager Techi Yagar, Block Cluster Level Federation–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (BCLF-NRLM) representative Mipa Taduk, members of the Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM), SHG presidents and office-bearers. Lower Siang Deputy Director of Industries Tarik Nyitan, who attended as a resource person, highlighted the importance of Udyam Registration for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). He elaborated on the government schemes, financial assistance and other benefits available to registered enterprises and encouraged SHGs and individual entrepreneurs to avail themselves of these opportunities. He also assured participants of guidance and support from the Department of Industries. Lower Siang Food Safety Officer Lokam Chaje conducted a session on FSSAI registration, explaining food safety standards, statutory requirements and the advantages of certification for food business operators. He urged SHGs and food entrepreneurs to maintain quality standards to improve marketability and consumer confidence. An interactive session was also held, allowing participants to seek clarification on registration procedures and related issues. The workshop served as a platform to promote awareness about the benefits of Udyam and FSSAI registration and encouraged local entrepreneurs and business establishments to adopt formal registration and food safety standards to strengthen entrepreneurship in the district. (DIPR)    

NAMSAI :  A three-day capacity building programme on Geographical Indications (GI) and post-GI livelihood initiatives concluded at Hotel Namlau here on Friday, equipping stakeholders with practical knowledge on GI registration, value addition, branding, marketing and livelihood promotion. The programme was organised by the Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), Kolkata, the apex training institute of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). Participants included representatives of non-governmental organisations, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Organic Farmer Producer Organisations (OFPOs), government departments and other stakeholders from Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. During the technical sessions, BIRD Kolkata Faculty Member and Programme Director Dr Bhawana Pal explained the provisions of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, the registration process and the role of stakeholders in promoting GI products. NABARD Deputy General Manager Vivek Anand highlighted the vast potential of GI products in the Northeast for generating sustainable livelihoods and strengthening rural enterprises. In an online session, Padma Shri awardee Dr Rajni Kant, popularly known as the “GI Man of India”, shared practical insights into the importance and process of GI registration. As part of the programme, participants undertook an exposure-cum-field visit to successful GI initiatives in Namsai and Changlang districts. They visited the Khaw Tai (Khamti Rice) Processing Unit of NOSAAP at Lathao, where they observed scientific processing, grading, packaging and value addition practices. The delegation also visited the Tangsa Textile Handloom Cluster at Nongtham and the Choeping Tibetan Cooperative Society at Miao to gain first-hand knowledge of traditional weaving and GI-tagged handmade carpet production. The participants further toured NABARD-supported NAVI Rural Mart at Miao and the NOSAAP Rural Mart at Namsai to understand how rural marts facilitate branding, marketing and sale of GI products. On the concluding day, Arunachal University of Studies Professor Dr Sajjan Choudhuri delivered a session on branding and marketing strategies for GI products. Dr Bhawana Pal discussed post-registration challenges and opportunities, while NOSAAP Chief Executive Officer Chau Athina Chauhai shared the success story of promoting GI-tagged Khaw Tai rice through collective farmer initiatives. Department of Textiles and Handloom Craft Superintendent Dusu Tatu highlighted government schemes supporting traditional textiles and handloom products. The organisers said the programme would contribute to strengthening GI-based entrepreneurship, preserving traditional knowledge, improving market access and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities across the region. The programme was coordinated by NABARD Namsai Assistant General Manager and District Development Manager Kamal Roy. Delivering the vote of thanks, he acknowledged the contributions of BIRD Kolkata, resource persons, partner institutions and participants, and stressed the importance of collaboration among government agencies, producer organisations and local communities to unlock the full potential of GI products for rural prosperity and inclusive economic growth.  

ITANAGAR : Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Thursday said the state government is committed to resolving long-pending forest area and land management issues through collaborative decision-making and improved inter-departmental coordination. Mein made the remarks after chairing a high-power committee (HPC) meeting, which deliberated on measures for addressing forest-related concerns and associated land management issues. The meeting was attended by Environment and Forest Minister Wangki Lowang, Urban Development & Land Management Minister Balo Raja, and Chief Secretary Manish Kumar Gupta. The meeting focused on identifying practical solutions to long-standing challenges, strengthening coordination among departments, and ensuring that developmental needs are addressed without compromising environmental priorities, officials said. Mein said the deliberations centred on identifying practical solutions, strengthening inter-departmental coordination and ensuring a balanced approach towards conservation and developmental needs. Reaffirming the government’s commitment to finding lasting solutions, he said efforts would continue to resolve pending issues through consensus-based decisions and effective governance. (Source: PTI)