ITANAGAR, OCT 15: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday attended the concluding programme of the All Nyishi Youth Association’s (ANYA) Golden Jubilee celebrations at Indira Gandhi Park here, marking 50 years of the organisation, which was founded in 1976. Congratulating ANYA on its five-decade journey, Khandu praised its role in guiding Nyishi youth through changing times. He appreciated the roadmap outlined by ANYA president Jamru Ruja, particularly its focus on preserving language and culture, and assured the association of the state government’s support. He also welcomed its concern over the growing number of organisations in Arunachal Pradesh, describing it as an issue that deserved attention across tribal communities. Noting that the Nyishis are the state’s largest tribal community, spread across seven districts, Khandu said their size brought greater responsibility, as other communities looked to them for leadership. He acknowledged the Nyishi community’s contributions to Arunachal Pradesh’s political, social, cultural and economic development, from the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) period through Union Territory status to statehood. He also paid tribute to senior leaders and social workers who had contributed to the community and the state. The Chief Minister urged ANYA to take the lead in promoting tourism in Nyishi-inhabited areas, describing tourism as an important engine of economic growth. Citing Tawang’s growing hospitality sector, the Ziro Festival of Music and Anini’s recognition as an emerging destination, he said tourism development required public participation and coordinated efforts by communities, elected representatives, Panchayats and district administrations. He asked ANYA to identify a tourism sector, prepare a roadmap in consultation with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and submit it to the government for further development. He also urged communities to embrace the spirit of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ and help create a welcoming environment for visitors. Emphasising the importance of cultural preservation, Khandu cautioned young people against allowing smartphones, social media and artificial intelligence to dominate their lives. He called on parents, elders and society to encourage analytical thinking and responsible technology use. He said the responsibility for preserving Nyishi language, culture and customs rested primarily with the community and its younger generations. He also urged ANYA to hold brainstorming sessions with policymakers and elected representatives on youth empowerment. Khandu commended the All East Kameng Social Welfare and Cultural Organisation (AEKSWCO) for periodically reviewing the performance of legislators from the district, describing it as a model of accountability that other communities could emulate. He also appreciated the organisation’s nurses for volunteering to care for the elderly. The release of a book on financial inclusion and disparities in Arunachal Pradesh, he said, would provide useful inputs to the Planning and Finance departments. Referring to the Vibrant Villages Programme, Khandu said Arunachal Pradesh was its largest beneficiary and that remote areas, including Kra Daadi and Upper Siang, were witnessing road development and early signs of reverse migration. The Chief Minister said hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 19,000 megawatts were at various stages of development and major public works were under way, yet the state remained heavily dependent on skilled workers from outside. Citing an example of 50 youths trained at a skill centre in Hyderabad who completed a project in Pasighat for Rs 10 lakh against an outside quotation of Rs 18 lakh, he stressed the need to develop local skills. Of the 10 skill centres functioning in the state, three are located in Nyishi areas at Sagalee and Yupia, while an Industrial Training Institute at Koloriang is nearing completion. Khandu invited ANYA and the All Nyishi Students’ Union to visit the centres and recommend additional trades based on local requirements. He also appealed to Nyishi entrepreneurs to invest in the capital region, pointing out that Itanagar still lacked a five-star hotel despite visits by Union ministers, senior officials and foreign diplomats. Announcing new opportunities for aspiring defence and paramilitary officers, Khandu said the state government would sponsor coaching from this year for young people seeking to join the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces as officers. Following initial training with the Army, selected candidates would be sent to reputed coaching centres in Delhi or Pune, with the government bearing the fees. He said discussions had been held with the Army’s Three Corps and Four Corps, adding that Nyishi youth remained under-represented in the officer cadre relative to their population. Khandu also announced that a Cell for the Arunachal Creative Economy would be established in the Chief Minister’s Office to help young people turn their creative talent into livelihood opportunities. The Institute for Transforming Arunachal (ITA), modelled on NITI Aayog, would also be established soon, with a chief executive officer and subject specialists to advise the government on policy matters. Highlighting educational support, he said the Arunachal Academic Excellence initiative covered scholarship costs for students admitted to universities ranked among the top 150 in the QS World University Rankings. He added that more students, including those from the Nyishi community, were joining the initiative this year. Stressing that government jobs were limited, Khandu encouraged young people to become job creators rather than job seekers. He said the Arunachal Pradesh Entrepreneurship Development Programme, launched in 2021, had helped establish more than 150 startups, while its annual intake had been increased to 100. He also urged business owners to register under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) framework, noting that the revised turnover limits of Rs 10 crore for micro, Rs 100 crore for small and Rs 500 crore for medium enterprises could improve access to institutional finance.
