State News

NAMSAI : A three-day Capacity Building Programme on Geographical Indications (GI) and Post-GI Initiatives for Livelihood commenced at Hotel Namlau in Namsai on Wednesday. The programme is being organised by the Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), Kolkata, the apex training institute of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), and will continue till June 19. Designed for representatives of NGOs, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Organic Farmer Producer Organisations (OFPOs) and other stakeholders engaged in GI-related activities, the programme has drawn participants from various districts of Arunachal Pradesh and neighbouring Assam. Namsai MLA Chau Zingnu Namchoom inaugurated the programme in the presence of Namsai District Planning Officer Dr. Keshab Sarmah, NABARD Deputy General Manager Vivek Anand, BIRD Kolkata Faculty Member-cum-Programme Director Dr. Bhawana Pal, NABARD Assistant General Manager (District Development) Kamal Roy and other stakeholders associated with GI initiatives. Welcoming the participants, Dr. Bhawana Pal highlighted the significance of GI and post-GI interventions in promoting sustainable livelihoods, strengthening value chains and enhancing market opportunities for local producers and artisans. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Keshab Sarmah emphasised the need to increase production of GI products to meet growing market demand. Referring to Khaw Tai (Khamti Rice), he said that while obtaining GI registration is a major achievement, commercial success depends on scaling up production without compromising quality. He also cited the success of the Namsai Fresh brand, noting that effective branding and promotion have significantly boosted demand for locally produced ghee. NABARD Deputy General Manager Vivek Anand outlined the institution’s efforts in facilitating GI registration and supporting post-GI initiatives, including capacity building, branding, packaging, quality standardisation, market linkages and awareness on Intellectual Property Rights to improve producers’ incomes. In his inaugural address, MLA Namchoom lauded NABARD and BIRD Kolkata for organising the programme in Arunachal Pradesh. He reiterated the State Government’s commitment to promoting GI products and stressed the need to strengthen cooperatives and producer institutions for value addition, branding and marketing. Earlier, Kamal Roy delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to BIRD Kolkata, resource persons and participants. He also shared success stories of NABARD’s interventions in rural livelihood promotion and value-chain development in the district. The training programme will feature technical sessions on GI registration, post-GI interventions, branding, marketing, Intellectual Property Rights and successful case studies from across the country, providing participants with practical insights to strengthen GI-based livelihoods. (DIPR)    

Mingkeng Osik PASIGHAT : The Voice of Adi Mega Audition, organised by the Adi Artists Association (AAA), was successfully held at Paddy Retreat in Pasighat, attracting enthusiastic participation from aspiring singers from across the region. A total of 35 contestants appeared before a panel of judges, of whom 20 were selected for the next stage of the competition. The selected contestants are Tonggu Ayom, Vijay Taying, Aido Moyong, Ani Yommin, Ogul Langkam, Bhagyawan Morang, Agung Boli, Nyonyok Talom, David Gao, Mipo Tali, Katu Moyong, Rokom Tasing, Osunam Perme, Orik Yommin, Martina Yao, Ome Borang, Michell Jomang, Karma Rinya, Ijing Ratan and Talat Yosung. The judging panel comprised Tajing Gao, the first Adi to obtain a Master’s degree in Performing Arts; noted singer and lyricist Tanya Padung, organiser of Voice of East Siang and recipient of an All India Radio singing award in 1980; and senior lyricist and composer Nakeng Perme, known for several popular Adi songs, including the hit Sai Sai Sina. Speaking on the occasion, AAA General Secretary-cum-Organising Chairman John Gao said the competition aims to discover, nurture and promote talented singers from the Adi community. He encouraged participants who were not selected to continue honing their skills and return with greater confidence in future editions. He informed that five contestants would be eliminated in each round until the finalists are determined, adding that the initiative is part of the association’s effort to identify hidden musical talent and provide a platform for emerging artists. The event witnessed several impressive performances, reflecting the rich musical potential of the younger generation. Organisers expressed confidence that the competition would contribute significantly to the promotion of Adi music while creating opportunities for talented artists to gain recognition and grow in their musical careers.      

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.