State News

ITANAGAR : The 1 Arunachal Pradesh Battalion National Cadet Corps (NCC), under the aegis of NCC Group Headquarters Tezpur, has commenced the Combined Annual Training Camp (CATC-47) cum Inter-Battalion Selection Camp for the Cultural Team for the Pre-Republic Day Camp 2027 at Rajiv Gandhi Government Polytechnic College (RGGPC), Itanagar. The 10-day camp, being held from June 13 to 22, has brought together 250 NCC cadets from across the state. The camp is being conducted under the leadership of Commanding Officer 1 AP Battalion NCC and is supported by 11 military staff, two Associate NCC Officers (ANOs) and two Caretaker Training Officers (CTOs). The primary objective of the camp is to acquaint cadets with the challenges and discipline of camp life while instilling the core NCC values of unity, discipline, national integration and esprit de corps. The training programme has been designed to provide participants with a comprehensive exposure to basic military training and leadership development. The curriculum includes physical training, field craft and battle craft, small arms firing, musketry, yoga sessions and lectures by distinguished personalities. These activities are aimed at enhancing physical endurance, mental resilience, teamwork, leadership qualities and self-confidence among cadets. The camp is also serving as the Inter-Battalion Pre-Selection Camp for the NCC Cultural Troupe for the Pre-Republic Day Camp 2027. The selection process is intended to identify talented cadets who will represent the region at the national level, while showcasing the rich cultural heritage and artistic traditions of Northeast India. In addition, cadets are undergoing training under the Yuva Aapda Mitra (YAM) Scheme, an initiative of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The programme equips volunteers with essential disaster response and emergency management skills. As part of the training, cadets are receiving practical instruction on relief, rescue and response mechanisms for disasters such as floods, cloudbursts and earthquakes. The sessions are being conducted by qualified instructors from the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), Arunachal Pradesh. The organisers said the camp reflects the NCC’s continued commitment to promoting discipline, fitness, leadership, healthy competition and social responsibility among youth, thereby contributing to the development of a capable and resilient society.

ITANAGAR : The People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) has strongly opposed the implementation of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APRA), demanding that the state government immediately convene a special assembly session to discuss its relevance. PPA president Nabam Vivek on Saturday disclosed that the party passed a formal resolution against the law during its state executive meeting on June 11, which was attended by state office bearers and heads of various frontal wings. A high-powered committee headed by retired justice BP Katakey submitted the draft rules to the state government on June 8, nearly 48 years after the legislation was enacted. The Act, passed in 1978, prohibits religious conversion through force, fraud, or inducement, but remained unimplemented due to the absence of operational rules. Vivek questioned the government’s intent behind collecting religious demographic data under the draft rules of the act. “What will the government do with data regarding a citizen’s religion? Whether an individual chooses to practice Sikhism, Buddhism, Christianity, or Hinduism, keeping a record of this information serves no governance purpose,” Vivek said. The act aims to regulate religious conversions. However, the PPA chief argued that the law has lost all relevance in 2026 and warned that its enforcement could severely disrupt the long-standing communal harmony, tribal identity, and peace in the state. “This law will not save tribal identity, nor will it successfully stop anyone from choosing their faith. Instead, enforcing it creates a high risk of communal disharmony, leading to potential conflicts within families and tribes on religious lines,” he said. Highlighting Arunachal Pradesh’s historic reputation as a peaceful state, Vivek drew a contrast with the rest of the Northeast region, noting that while other states historically battled terrorism, Arunachal Pradesh remained largely peaceful. “Arunachal has always been a peace-loving state, and we intend to keep it that way. The PPA opposes this act from the bottom of our hearts and will challenge it through every democratic and legislative process available,” Vivek added, while urging the state government to halt the implementation of the act in the wider public interest. Meanwhile, the Human Rights of Arunachal (HRA) has urged the state government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to reconsider and reject the recommendations of the High-Power Committee concerning the implementation of the APFRA, 1978. In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Sunday, HRA expressed deep concern about the potential fallout if the Act is enforced and explicitly urged the state government not to implement APFRA in Arunachal Pradesh. Highlighting the state’s long-standing tradition of peaceful coexistence among various faiths and communities, the rights body cautioned that enforcing the decades-old Act could severely disrupt the prevailing peace, brotherhood, and communal harmony. It further contended that the implementation of APFRA yields limited public or administrative benefit. “In our view, the implementation of APFRA is unlikely to bring any significant benefit either to the people of Arunachal Pradesh or to the state government. Instead, it may create misunderstanding and division among communities,” it said in the memorandum. Critiquing the High-Power Committee’s recent findings, the organisation claimed that the recommendations fail to adequately represent the true aspirations and concerns of a vast section of the state’s population, warning of unintended consequences for Arunachal’s social fabric. (Source: PTI)

Staff Reporter ITANAGAR : The Consumer Rights Organisation (CRO), Arunachal Pradesh, has submitted a memorandum to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), raising concerns over the implementation of the Lada-Sarli section of National Highway-913, popularly known as the Frontier Highway Project. Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club here on Sunday, CRO State President Achu Bagang said the organisation fully supports the Government of India’s vision of strengthening connectivity and infrastructure in border areas and acknowledged the strategic importance of the Frontier Highway Project for socio-economic development, national security, tourism, employment generation and infrastructure growth in frontier regions. However, Bagang alleged that issues relating to transparency, public participation and administrative accountability have surfaced during the execution of the project. He claimed that adequate public consultation and consensus-building had not been ensured and alleged that public grievances were not being effectively addressed, leading to growing dissatisfaction among local communities. According to Bagang, the absence of transparent institutional dialogue and accountability mechanisms has contributed to public unrest in areas along the proposed highway corridor, particularly in the Lada-Sarli sector and adjoining regions. A key concern highlighted in the memorandum relates to the ongoing tendering process. Bagang claimed that some contractors had reportedly submitted bids ranging between 35 and 49 per cent below the estimated project cost. Referring to established engineering practices and Central Public Works Department norms, he said abnormally low bids could raise concerns regarding execution quality, contractor capability, financial viability and long-term accountability. He further alleged that such bidding practices may compromise the durability, safety standards and sustainability of the strategically significant highway project. The lack of public clarification from the concerned authorities, he said, has fuelled suspicions of irregularities and possible corruption. The organisation has sought urgent intervention from the Centre and urged the Ministry to establish transparent communication mechanisms involving local communities and stakeholders, conduct an independent inquiry into the alleged irregularities, review the feasibility of unusually low bids and strengthen monitoring and accountability measures. The CRO also called for stakeholder consultations involving local representatives, affected citizens, civil society organisations and government agencies to restore public confidence and ensure smooth implementation of the project. In its memorandum, the organisation reiterated its support for national development and strategic infrastructure expansion while emphasising the need to safeguard the rights, interests and aspirations of communities affected by the project. Copies of the memorandum were submitted to the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Chief Minister Pema Khandu, the Chief Secretary, the Public Works Department Commissioner, the Regional Officer of MoRTH, concerned Deputy Commissioners and other relevant authorities, Bagang informed.      

ITANAGAR : In a significant step towards nation-building through military-civil integration, the Indian Army and Bharti Airtel Pvt Ltd have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand communication infrastructure and establish mobile connectivity in remote areas of Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh, a Defence source said today. The initiative aims to provide reliable mobile connectivity to communities that have remained disconnected for more than a decade, addressing a critical developmental need in one of the country’s strategically important frontier regions. By bridging the digital divide, the project is expected to enhance access to government services, digital education, healthcare, financial inclusion and communication facilities, thereby improving the quality of life of local residents. Officials said enhanced connectivity would also promote tourism and create fresh opportunities for economic growth and socio-economic development across the region. Improved communication infrastructure is expected to strengthen the integration of remote border communities with the national mainstream, supporting the government’s vision of inclusive development. From a strategic perspective, the upgraded network infrastructure will support the operational effectiveness of Indian Army personnel deployed in forward areas by enabling improved communication capabilities and strengthening logistical coordination. The initiative highlights the growing synergy between civil and military stakeholders in advancing both developmental and strategic objectives in border regions. The partnership underscores a shared commitment to strengthening frontier areas through sustainable infrastructure development and aligns with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. (Source: UNI)