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ZIRO : The Lower Subansiri district administration has launched a 10-day awareness campaign under the banner “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, Vikshit Bharat ki Pehchaan” as part of efforts to combat substance abuse and promote a drug-free society. The district-wide campaign, which will continue until June 26, coincides with activities being observed across the country in connection with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The campaign was formally launched with a mass pledge and signature drive at the District Secretariat Office Complex in Ziro. Lower Subansiri Deputy Commissioner Oli Perme called upon Heads of Departments and local administrative leaders to actively support the initiative, underscoring the importance of a united approach in tackling drug abuse. Emphasising the need to safeguard the younger generation, the district administration highlighted that protecting youth from the dangers of substance abuse is vital for building a healthy, safe and progressive society. Community members, families and student organisations have been urged to actively participate in the campaign and help spread awareness at the grassroots level. A district action plan has been prepared by Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Deputy Director Kago Maya Gyati to take the anti-drug message to schools, colleges and public institutions through a series of awareness programmes and community outreach activities. As part of the schedule, awareness drives, pledge ceremonies, signature campaigns and educational film screenings will be conducted in schools from June 18 to 19. On June 20, a special programme will be organised at the Superintendent of Police Office in Ziro, followed by a mass pledge and yoga session at the DY Complex on June 21. Further activities include awareness programmes for departmental employees, a district-level essay competition for students, educational film screenings and an interactive session with college students on substance abuse and its social consequences. The campaign will conclude on June 26 at the One Stop Centre (OSC), Ziro, with a final mass pledge and signature campaign led by the Women and Child Development Department. Officials expressed confidence that the initiative would strengthen community awareness, encourage youth participation and reinforce collective efforts towards making Lower Subansiri a drug-free district. (DIPR)      

ITANAGAR : The Arunachal Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday approved a slew of proposals, including promulgation of an MSME ordinance, a Rs 2,000-crore rural road connectivity programme, simplification of land-use conversion rules, and a one-year age relaxation for eligible APPSC aspirants. The proposed Arunachal Pradesh Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Facilitation of Establishment and Operation) Ordinance, 2026, which will be placed before the assembly, seeks to reduce regulatory burden by allowing eligible enterprises to start operations through a self-declaration mechanism, subject to existing laws. The move would improve ease-of-doing business, encourage entrepreneurship, attract investment and generate employment, a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said. The cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Pema Khandu also reviewed the progress of the flagship ‘Shikshit Bharat to Shikshit Arunachal’ Mission. It observed that Rs 3,612.50 crore has been invested during phase-I (2023-26) to improve school infrastructure, teacher deployment, digital education and learning outcomes, with another Rs 1,500 crore proposed for phase-II, taking the total outlay beyond Rs 5,100 crore by 2029, the release said. The mission has rationalised the school network from 2,890 to 1,885 schools through 538 host schools, enabled over 2,600 merit-based teacher transfers through a digital registry portal, and improved CBSE Class X and XII pass percentages by 21.7 per cent and 22.8 per cent, respectively, officials said. Infrastructure development under the mission includes 50 golden jubilee schools, 90 PM Shri schools, over 120 hostels, 152 science laboratories, 159 libraries, more than 400 sanitation facilities, 300 PM Poshan kitchens and 180 staff quarters, they said. The government has also recruited 150 “special education teachers” and distributed 75,100 textbooks in 10 tribal languages, the officials said. The cabinet was also apprised of the implementation framework for the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive State Rural Road Development Programme (CM-CSRRDP), under which 1,129 unconnected habitations with populations below 250 will be linked by all-weather roads by 2029. The programme will cover around 6,567 km through phased investments of Rs 2,000 crore over the next three financial years, the statement said. To facilitate planned urban growth, the cabinet approved amendments to the Arunachal Pradesh Land Settlement and Records Rules, 2012. Agricultural land within notified master plan areas will automatically be deemed converted to the prescribed land use without requiring separate permissions, while the record of rights format will be modernised for digital integration and transparency, it said. Besides, the cabinet approved the Arunachal Pradesh Cooperation Policy, 2026, aligned with the National Cooperation Policy, to strengthen cooperative institutions, improve digital governance and enhance market access for agriculture and allied sectors. In a relief for job aspirants, it granted a further one-year extension of the one-time upper age relaxation for candidates who had applied for the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) recruitment examinations advertised in 2022, but became ineligible due to delays in conducting the tests. The cabinet also approved amendments to the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB) Rules, 2018, allowing serving or retired organised service officers “with at least 20 years of regular service and super time scale (level-14) status” to be appointed as chairman. Retired officers, if appointed, will serve for five years or until attaining 65 years of age, whichever is earlier. It also approved relaxation of recruitment rules for regularisation of contractual services of erstwhile RMSA-trained graduate teachers against 74 existing vacancies through a departmental promotion committee. Among governance reforms, the cabinet extended the tenure of the Arunachal Pradesh Administrative Reforms Commission by six months till February 27, 2027, included divisional commissioners as ex-officio members, upgraded the member secretary post and approved amendments to recruitment rules for the post of junior analyst. It also approved changes in recruitment rules for the posts of aviation officer and various horticulture department posts, besides creating the Aalo west division of the Public Works Department without additional financial burden. The cabinet further approved amendments to state labour laws and rules to align them with the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, and reiterated its commitment to economic growth, better governance, employment generation, rural connectivity and improved public service delivery across the state. (Source: PTI)    

TAWANG : A one-day awareness programme on the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) was organised by the District Industries Centre (DIC), Tawang, under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) initiative at Government Town Secondary School here on Tuesday. Tawang Deputy Commissioner Namgyal Angmo attended the programme as the chief guest and encouraged students, particularly girls, to make full use of government-sponsored skill development opportunities. She emphasised that acquiring vocational and technical skills enhances employability while fostering self-confidence, self-reliance and financial independence. “Skill development equips young minds with the tools needed to navigate the future with confidence and dignity,” she said, urging students to prepare themselves for emerging opportunities. Addressing the gathering, Tawang Deputy Director of Industries Tsering Drema encouraged students to enrol in skill development programmes offered under PMKVY and highlighted the diverse training opportunities available for youth to pursue careers aligned with their interests and aspirations. During the programme, DIC Economic Investigator Sange Norbu provided detailed information on various schemes being implemented by the centre, including PMKVY and the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). He explained the benefits, eligibility criteria and application procedures under the schemes. Government Town Secondary School Headmistress Tsering Yangzom also addressed the students, stressing the importance of skill development in building a secure and prosperous future. She noted that education and vocational training play a transformative role in empowering girls and strengthening communities. The programme concluded with an interactive session during which students sought clarifications on skill development and entrepreneurship schemes. The discussion helped create awareness about career-oriented training opportunities and encouraged participants to explore skill-based learning for personal and professional growth. The event reaffirmed the commitment of the district administration and the District Industries Centre towards empowering young girls and promoting a skilled, confident and self-reliant generation.

ITANAGAR : Former Public Works Department (PWD) Chief Engineer Dube Dulom passed away at Heema Hospital here on Tuesday at 4:34 pm. He was 61. Born on August 5, 1964, Dulom was the son of late Lidu Dulom and late Lije Nguki Dulom. A highly respected engineer and administrator, he retired as Chief Engineer, PWD North West Zone, Tawang, on August 31, 2024, after rendering 37 years of dedicated service to the people of Arunachal Pradesh. Dulom was widely admired for his professionalism, integrity and commitment to public service. Affectionately known among colleagues and the public as “Dagda Bill Engineer,” he earned the sobriquet for his honesty, transparency and accountability in public dealings. Throughout his distinguished career, he was respected for his straightforward approach, fair administration and unwavering commitment to ethical governance. Dulom is survived by his wife Omem Gyama Dulom, three sons, one daughter and six grandchildren. His demise has been deeply mourned by colleagues, friends, well-wishers and members of the engineering fraternity, who remember him as a dedicated public servant and a person of exemplary character.

KHONSA : Tirap Deputy Commissioner Techu Aran on Tuesday handed over a contribution of ₹1,22,000 to the Missionaries of Charity, Khonsa, in support of the organisation’s humanitarian work for sick and vulnerable persons. The amount was raised through contributions from Heads of Departments (HoDs) across Tirap district following an appeal from the Missionaries of Charity, which is currently caring for several sick and destitute individuals at its charity home. During the handover programme at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Aran acknowledged the invaluable services rendered by the Missionaries of Charity and appreciated the collective response of district officials in supporting the noble cause. The Missionaries of Charity have been serving some of the most marginalised sections of society, including the sick, destitute, abandoned, orphaned and economically disadvantaged. Through their dedicated efforts, the organisation continues to provide care, dignity and hope to those in need. The district administration expressed appreciation for the institution’s sustained contribution to humanitarian welfare and reaffirmed its support for organisations working towards the upliftment and well-being of underprivileged and vulnerable sections of society. (DIPR)