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Mingkeng Osik ITANAGAR : January Tali of Upper Siang district and Hachu Lombo of Dibang Valley district have become the first women from Arunachal Pradesh to successfully summit 7,077-metre Mt Kun in the Zanskar region of Ladakh. The two mountaineers reached the summit at around 6 am on July 27 after an 11-day expedition organised by Cho Expedition. The team had set out from Leh for the Zanskar region on July 16. Mt Kun, one of the highest peaks in the Zanskar range of the Indian Himalayas, is regarded as one of India’s most demanding high-altitude climbs due to its steep snow slopes, glaciers, harsh weather and the technical skills and endurance required to reach the summit. The expedition comprised nine climbers, including two women and seven men, excluding Sherpas. Of the nine participants, only four successfully reached the summit, while the others had to abandon their attempt because of the extreme conditions, highlighting the difficulty of the climb. For January Tali, the feat adds another milestone to an already distinguished mountaineering career. She had earlier become the first Arunachali woman to summit six Himalayan peaks within two weeks, including UT Kangri (6,080 metres), which she climbed twice, and Mentok Kangri-I (6,268 metres), Mentok Kangri-II (6,218 metres) and Mentok Kangri-III (6,126 metres), with double summits on UT Kangri and Mentok Kangri-III. Both Tali and Lombo are expected to receive official summit certificates from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) in recognition of their successful ascent. Their achievement has been hailed as a proud moment for Arunachal Pradesh and is expected to inspire more young people, particularly women, to take up adventure sports and high-altitude mountaineering. The historic climb also marks a significant milestone for the state’s growing presence in Indian mountaineering.      

Mingkeng Osik GUWAHATI : Adi Ba:né Kébang Youth Wing (ABKYW) President Oki Dai has been conferred the honorary title of ‘Professor of Practice’ by Manipur International University in recognition of his outstanding contribution to social service and community development. The honour was presented at a function held in Guwahati on July 30 by Assam Minister Rameshwar Teli and Palasbari MLA Himangshu Shekhar Baishya. A native of Adipasi village in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Siang district, Dai was recognised for his sustained efforts towards the welfare of the Adi community and his leadership in spearheading various social initiatives through the ABKYW. Under his leadership, the organisation has undertaken disaster relief operations, environmental awareness campaigns, youth empowerment programmes, community welfare initiatives and activities aimed at preserving the cultural heritage and traditions of the Adi tribe. The ‘Professor of Practice’ is an honorary distinction conferred on individuals who have demonstrated exceptional professional expertise and made significant contributions to society through leadership, practical knowledge and community service. Expressing gratitude after receiving the honour, Dai thanked Manipur International University for the recognition and dedicated the award to the people of Arunachal Pradesh, particularly the Adi community. He said the honour would inspire him and the ABKYW to continue working for the welfare of society while encouraging young people to take an active role in community development. The recognition marks another milestone in Dai’s public service journey and highlights the growing role of youth-led organisations in promoting social welfare, cultural preservation and inclusive development.    

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)