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ITANAGAR : Dera Natung Government College (DNGC), Itanagar, on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NESO Fugensus Pvt. Ltd. (NE-ORGANICS) to strengthen industry-academia collaboration and enhance student employability through skill development, internships, entrepreneurship and organic farming initiatives. The five-year agreement was signed by DNGC Principal Dr M Q Khan and NESO Fugensus Director and CEO Nima Sona in the presence of representatives from both organisations. The MoU may be renewed with mutual consent. Under the partnership, the two institutions will collaborate to provide internships, industrial exposure and project opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students. The agreement also provides for workshops, seminars, faculty and student exchange programmes, and short-term training courses to strengthen academic and professional competencies. A major focus of the collaboration will be the promotion of organic farming, sustainable agricultural practices and rural entrepreneurship. The partners will jointly organise awareness programmes, capacity-building initiatives and technology transfer activities for farmers, self-help groups (SHGs) and rural entrepreneurs. The MoU also envisages collaborative research, joint publications and other academic engagements to promote innovation and knowledge-sharing, besides entrepreneurship development programmes and career guidance to help students become industry-ready. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Khan said the partnership would bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical industry experience while creating new opportunities for students to develop entrepreneurial skills and contribute meaningfully to society. Representatives of NESO Fugensus said the company remains committed to promoting sustainable organic agriculture and creating opportunities for young people through innovation, training and collaborative initiatives. The agreement also includes provisions on confidentiality, dispute resolution and mutual responsibilities to ensure a transparent and long-term partnership focused on academic excellence and socio-economic development. The collaboration is expected to strengthen DNGC’s efforts to provide experiential learning opportunities while contributing to Arunachal Pradesh’s vision of sustainable development, organic farming and youth empowerment.      

PASIGHAT : East Siang Additional Deputy Commissioner (i/c Deputy Commissioner) Pebika Lego chaired the District Development Review-cum-District Level Monitoring Committee (DDR-cum-DLMC) meeting at the DC’s Conference Hall here on Friday, reviewing the progress of developmental programmes and public service delivery across the district. The meeting was attended by East Siang Zilla Parishad Chairperson Ruth Tabing Boko, Zilla Parishad Members and Heads of Departments (HoDs). Reviewing the implementation of various government programmes, Lego stressed the need to maintain quality in all developmental works and directed the departments concerned to ensure timely and efficient execution of projects. She asked HoDs to candidly highlight field-level challenges so that appropriate interventions could be initiated without delay. Emphasising administrative efficiency, the ADC instructed departments to deploy capable personnel for effective discharge of official responsibilities and directed the Education Department to submit its Action Taken Report at the earliest. She also reviewed the functioning of the Agriculture, Veterinary and Fisheries departments and sought details of banking-related issues, delays or other constraints affecting implementation of government schemes. She advised all departments to hold regular internal coordination meetings before submitting reports to ensure accuracy, consistency and better inter-departmental coordination. Highlighting East Siang’s tourism potential, Lego said several villages have immense scope for tourism development and called for coordinated efforts by the Pasighat Municipal Council (PMC), Panchayati Raj Institutions and local communities to improve village infrastructure and aesthetics to attract visitors. She also asked departments to involve the District Information and Public Relations Officer (DIPRO) while organising awareness programmes and training so that government initiatives receive wider publicity. The ADC further urged all departments to ensure that eligible casual workers, Assistant Labour Commissioners (ALCs) and departmental staff are enrolled under social security schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY), besides ensuring timely renewal of these schemes. During the meeting, East Siang Deputy Director of School Education Adhuk Tabing highlighted difficulties in obtaining Land Possession Certificates (LPCs) for schools. He informed that several schools are located on Forest Department land where obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) has become difficult. In some cases, descendants of families who had donated land for schools have refused to issue NOCs, claiming the land was donated without proper family consent or compensation, while some have demanded government employment for a family member in return. Lego appealed to the Zilla Parishad Chairperson and Zilla Parishad Members to play a proactive role in resolving grassroots issues, stating that their intervention as elected representatives is crucial for effective governance and timely redressal of public grievances. She also directed departments to submit verified and accurate data, stressing that official reports must reflect the ground reality. Speaking during the meeting, East Siang Zilla Parishad Chairperson Ruth Tabing Boko underscored the importance of close coordination between government departments and elected representatives, stating that active involvement of ZPMs facilitates timely and amicable resolution of local issues. Heads of various departments also shared challenges faced in implementing developmental programmes and delivering public services, with discussions focusing on practical solutions through stronger inter-departmental coordination. The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from the district administration and participating departments to strengthen governance and accelerate the overall development of East Siang district. (DIPR)        

Mingkeng Osik PASIGHAT : The Adi Ba:ne Kebang Youth Wing (ABKYW-Apex) has distributed ₹4.17 lakh in financial assistance to flood-affected families in East Siang district after raising the amount through a voluntary online contribution drive launched in the aftermath of the devastating floods of June 28. ABKYW Apex president Narmi Oki Dai said the one-day fundraising campaign received voluntary contributions from people across Namsai, Yingkiong, Boleng, Pasighat and Itanagar. He expressed gratitude to all individuals and organisations who extended support to the flood victims. Following field inspections, the Youth Wing prioritised assistance to families whose Wet Rice Cultivation (WRC) fields and houses had suffered extensive damage. Financial assistance was disbursed according to the extent of losses incurred. The relief was distributed as follows: Sido village ₹25,000; Korang village ₹20,000; Bilat village ₹40,000; Boying village ₹40,000; Mongku village ₹12,000; Ledum village ₹1.80 lakh, including ₹1.05 lakh for seven damaged WRC fields and ₹75,000 for three damaged houses; Mirem village ₹75,000 for five damaged WRC fields; and Rasam village ₹25,000 for one damaged house. Oki Dai said members of the Youth Wing personally visited the affected villages and witnessed the hardships faced by the residents. He noted that Korang and Sido villages continue to face serious difficulties due to damaged roads and disrupted drinking water supply. On behalf of the organisation and the flood-affected families, he appealed to Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, East Siang Deputy Commissioner and the departments concerned, including the Rural Engineering Department (RED), Public Works Department (PWD) and Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), to restore road connectivity and drinking water facilities in the affected villages at the earliest. Expressing gratitude on behalf of the beneficiaries, Oki Dai said the overwhelming support received from donors across the state reflected the spirit of unity and collective responsibility during times of crisis.    

TAWANG : Tawang Deputy Commissioner Namgyal Angmo chaired the third District Level Monitoring Committee (DLMC) meeting on Friday, directing departments to expedite developmental works, strengthen monitoring mechanisms and ensure timely completion of projects. The meeting, held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall, was attended by Tawang Zilla Parishad Chairperson Leki Gombu, Tawang Superintendent of Police Tasi Darang, Additional Deputy Commissioners Hakraso Kri (Jang) and Tashi Dhondup (Lungla), Heads of Departments, Executive Engineers and officials of project-implementing agencies. Earlier, Assistant Commissioner-cum-District Planning Officer Nawang Thutan welcomed the participants and outlined the agenda. In her opening remarks, the Deputy Commissioner directed all Heads of Departments and field-level officials to remain stationed at their respective headquarters to ensure accountability and effective implementation of government programmes. The review began with a presentation by the Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD), Lungla Division, on the progress of ongoing projects, followed by presentations from other implementing departments. Reviewing the progress, Angmo directed all departments to include photographs of ongoing works and completed milestones in future presentations. She observed that review meetings would be meaningful only if they reflected tangible progress on the ground. She instructed that from the next DLMC meeting onwards, every department should present comparative photographs showing the status of projects during the previous review and their current stage of execution to facilitate objective assessment. Highlighting the importance of sustainable development, the Deputy Commissioner enquired whether plastic waste was being utilised in road metalling works wherever feasible and encouraged departments to adopt environmentally sustainable construction practices. Expressing concern over delays in project execution, she directed Executive Engineers to issue notices to contractors responsible for slow progress and take appropriate measures to ensure timely completion of works. She also stressed the need to expedite projects under the Vibrant Villages Programme, considering their strategic importance for border area development. The Deputy Commissioner further asked departments to proactively highlight implementation bottlenecks for timely intervention. She directed that future DLMC presentations should include project-wise physical and financial progress, target completion dates, challenges and proposed solutions, adding that forthcoming meetings would begin with a review of the Action Taken Report on decisions taken in the previous meeting. Speaking on the occasion, Tawang Zilla Parishad Chairperson Leki Gombu appreciated the efforts of implementing departments in maintaining satisfactory progress despite the district’s short working season and logistical challenges. He urged departments to further accelerate developmental works while maintaining quality standards. The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthen inter-departmental coordination and ensure timely and quality execution of developmental projects across Tawang district. (DIPR)

ITANAGAR : The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) on Thursday extended its solidarity to students protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi over alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and condemned the reported police lathi charge on demonstrators during the Chalo Sansad march on July 20. The union alleged that several students and protesters were injured in the police action and said the grievances raised by the protesters should be addressed through dialogue and accountability rather than force. AAPSU also expressed concern over the continuing hunger strike by Sonam Wangchuk, who it said is undergoing treatment at Medanta Hospital, and the ongoing agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The union said the protests reflect the concerns of students and families who have questioned the integrity of the examination process. In a statement, AAPSU President Meje Taku said, “A student demanding a fair examination system is not an enemy of the state. When the government answers that demand with lathis and tear gas, it is not the students who are failing this country; it is the system that was supposed to protect them.” He further said that Arunachal Pradesh understands the consequences of ignoring the voices of young people and would not remain silent while students elsewhere in the country were allegedly subjected to force for raising legitimate concerns. According to AAPSU, Wangchuk has sought accountability over the alleged NEET paper leak, an assurance that the matter will be raised in Parliament and a guarantee that no student or protester will face punitive legal action. The union said these demands, along with the CJP’s call for ministerial accountability, warrant a direct response from the Central government. “A hunger strike from a hospital bed is not a threat to the nation; it is a mirror held up to it. The government must look into that mirror and respond with dialogue, not silence,” Taku said. The union cautioned that continued delay in engaging with the protesters could lead to wider public unrest, stating that what began as a protest over one examination could develop into a nationwide movement if the Centre continues to rely on force instead of dialogue. AAPSU said it has written to the Prime Minister urging immediate talks with the protesting students and Wangchuk. It also warned that if the government fails to respond in a timely manner, the union would be compelled to organise statewide protests across Arunachal Pradesh in solidarity with the demonstrators at Jantar Mantar. “Let this be clear: if the government does not pay heed in time, this will not remain confined to Delhi. It will spill over, and the country could well see agitations on a scale far beyond what we are witnessing today. Our patience is in solidarity with the students of Jantar Mantar, not with the government’s delay. If dialogue does not begin soon, Arunachal Pradesh will make its voice heard on the streets as well,” Taku said. AAPSU appealed to the Central government to act with urgency, stating that students deserve answers and constructive engagement.    

ITANAGAR : The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Thursday condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) protest held along National Highway-415 opposite Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan here on July 22, alleging that the demonstration was undemocratic and conducted without the requisite permission. In a statement, APCC General Secretary (Organisation and Administration) and spokesperson Chera Taya alleged that the protest reflected the BJP’s “political desperation” and was an attempt to divert attention from issues relating to the alleged National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak and examination irregularities. He claimed the ruling party had no moral authority to criticise the Congress while questions continued to be raised over the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the future of students affected by alleged examination irregularities. The APCC also asserted that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has consistently raised issues concerning NEET aspirants, paper leaks, unemployment and educational inequality, and accused the BJP of attempting to shift the focus away from these concerns. The party further alleged that the protest was particularly concerning because it was organised by the ruling party outside the headquarters of the principal Opposition party, describing it as an act that raises questions over political intimidation, misuse of power and adherence to democratic conventions. Claiming that the Capital administration and police had not granted permission for the demonstration, the APCC demanded a thorough and impartial inquiry into the circumstances under which the protest was organised. It said that if the event was held without the required permission, appropriate administrative and legal action should be taken in accordance with the law. The APCC maintained that the law should be applied uniformly to all political parties and organisations and urged the administration to ensure that no party, irrespective of whether it is in power, is allowed to violate established laws and democratic norms. Reiterating its stand, the Congress said it remains committed to democratic debate, peaceful political mobilisation and constitutional methods of protest, while affirming that it would continue to raise issues concerning students, unemployment, examination irregularities, corruption and governance.