State News

ITANAGAR : The Arunachal Pradesh unit of the Congress on Saturday urged the state government to address the grievances of teacher educators and staffers of SCERT and district institutes of education and training (DIETs), warning that continued delays in salary payments have pushed employees to the brink of an indefinite strike. In a statement, Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bosiram Siram expressed concern over the ongoing agitation by the Arunachal Pradesh Teacher Educators’ Association (APTEA), which has been demanding a permanent solution to the recurring delay in salary disbursement among teaching and non-teaching staff of SCERT and 11 DIETs across the state. The association has been pressing for a resolution through a series of protests. It first observed a day-long pen-down strike on May 29, followed by a two-day strike on June 4 and 5. Claiming that repeated representations to the authorities have failed to yield any concrete assurance, APTEA has announced an indefinite pen-down strike from June 15 under the banner of ‘no pay, no work’ if its demands remain unresolved. Pointing out that the salary issue has persisted for several years, with employees allegedly facing irregular and delayed payments since 2019, the party said the prolonged delays have caused severe financial hardship, affecting employees’ ability to meet household expenses, repay loans and support their children’s education. Siram said the association’s primary demand is for salaries of DIET employees to be paid directly from the state exchequer. APTEA has argued that dependence on funding mechanisms linked to centrally sponsored schemes often leads to delays and uncertainty in salary disbursement. The Congress leader said the issue goes beyond employee welfare and has implications for the state’s education system, as teacher educators play a crucial role in training future teachers and strengthening educational institutions. “It is unfortunate that educators entrusted with shaping the future of our education system have been compelled to resort to agitation for redressal of their legitimate concerns,” Siram said. He added that delayed salary payments not only affect the livelihood of employees and their families but can also undermine the functioning of teacher-training institutions and impact the quality of education. The APCC urged the government to immediately engage with the agitating association and resolve the issue through dialogue. It also called for better coordination among the education and finance departments and other authorities concerned to ensure timely salary disbursement and prevent such situations from recurring. “Education is the foundation of progress, and the concerns of those who serve the education sector must never be ignored,” Siram said, reiterating the party’s support for a fair, humane and time-bound resolution of the issue. (Source: PTI)

SEPPA : A two-day Goods and Services Tax (GST) outreach programme jointly organised by CGST Bhalukpong and SGST Seppa concluded on Saturday at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Seppa. The programme, held on June 4 and 5, was attended by Seppa Deputy Commissioner, reflecting the district administration’s support for efforts aimed at enhancing awareness and simplifying tax compliance. Resource person CA Aayush Kumar Gupta from Tezpur conducted the sessions, explaining various aspects of the GST framework in a simplified and practical manner. The first day focused on the fundamentals of indirect taxation, GST registration procedures and the basics of return filing. The second day covered key topics such as the Input Tax Credit (ITC) mechanism, GST-related offences and penalties. The programme concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session during which participants received clarifications on practical issues related to GST compliance. The joint initiative by the CGST and SGST departments was appreciated for bringing essential tax awareness and financial guidance to the district while encouraging transparent and voluntary tax compliance among stakeholders.

  DAPORIJO : A Social Service-cum-Tree Plantation Drive was organised at the highway-side area adjacent to Jaring Ground, Daporijo, under the aegis of the Apatani Welfare Committee (AWC), Upper Subansiri district, as part of preparations for the forthcoming Dree Festival 2026. Held under the theme “Clean Daporijo, Green Daporijo,” the programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from members of the Apatani community, government officials and representatives of various organisations. The event was attended by Tagin Cultural Society President Larji Rigia Dukam as chief guest. Upper Subansiri Deputy Commissioner and Daporijo Additional Deputy Commissioner, along with executive members of the Apatani Welfare Committee, led the programme. Several prominent personalities and officials participated in the drive, including PWD Nacho Executive Engineer Er Tumkam Nalo, executive members of the Tagin Cultural Society, the women’s wing general secretary of the society and other members. Members of the Apatani community residing in Upper Subansiri district, including men, women and children, turned out in large numbers to support the initiative. Participants carried out a cleanliness drive and planted palm-oli saplings along the designated stretch, contributing to the beautification and greening of Daporijo township. Speaking on the occasion, the dignitaries stressed the importance of environmental conservation, community participation and sustainable development. They appreciated the organisers for promoting ecological awareness while strengthening social responsibility and inter-community harmony. The programme formed part of the broader preparations for Dree Festival 2026 and reflected the community’s commitment to preserving nature and creating a cleaner and greener environment for future generations. The event concluded with participants pledging continued support for environmental initiatives and collective efforts towards making Daporijo a model green township.

Staff Reporter ITANAGAR :  Former Home Minister and senior political leader Tanga Byaling has urged the Arunachal Pradesh government to review and re-notify the boundary demarcation between Upper Subansiri and Kamle districts, citing concerns over the long-standing inter-district boundary dispute. Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club here on Saturday, Byaling said the Home Department notification issued on May 27, 2020 requires a comprehensive review to ensure fairness, transparency and clarity in the demarcation process. He stated that while Ligu and Liruk villages were included under Kamle district through the Arunachal Pradesh (Reorganisation of Districts) Acts of 1980 and 2017, the 2020 notification reportedly brought several other areas and colonies—Sigum Rijo, Dilidi Colony, Sinyik Colony, Power Grid Colony, Santi Colony and Lidu Colony—under Kamle district’s jurisdiction despite their long-standing association with Upper Subansiri district. Maintaining that villages and settlements historically belonging to Upper Subansiri should not be excluded through administrative notifications, Byaling called on the state government to initiate a transparent, impartial and mutually acceptable process for physical demarcation of the inter-district boundary. Expressing concern over the ongoing Special Intensive Review (SIR) process, he urged the government to ensure that an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 residents affected by the boundary dispute are not deprived of their rights or excluded during the exercise. Byaling further claimed that the 2020 Home Department notification extended the jurisdiction of the Raga Police Station up to the Sigin River under Kamle district. He appealed to the Upper Subansiri Deputy Commissioner and Kamle Deputy Commissioner to jointly examine the gazette notification and undertake an unbiased and transparent boundary demarcation exercise in the larger interest of the affected population. A fair and amicable resolution of the boundary issue, he said, is essential to prevent administrative confusion and safeguard the interests of residents living in the disputed areas.        

LONGDING : A team from ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Longding has recorded a striking yellow-coloured puffball mushroom growing naturally on decaying woody debris and organic-rich soil at Zedua village in Longding district, highlighting the rich yet underexplored fungal biodiversity of Arunachal Pradesh. The specimen was observed during a field visit on June 4 and was tentatively identified as Bovista colorata (Yellow Puffball Mushroom) by ICAR-KVK Longding SMS (Plant Pathology) Dr Deep Narayan Mishra based on its characteristic yellow globose fruiting body and puffball-like morphology. According to Dr Mishra, detailed microscopic examination and molecular characterisation will be required for definitive taxonomic confirmation. However, a preliminary review of available scientific literature indicates that documented records of the species from Longding district are currently lacking. If confirmed, the observation could represent one of the earliest documented field records of Bovista colorata from the district and a valuable addition to the known macrofungal diversity of Arunachal Pradesh. Unlike conventional mushrooms that bear gills beneath a cap, puffball fungi produce spores within a closed spherical fruiting body. Upon maturity, the internal tissue transforms into a powdery spore mass that is dispersed by wind, rain or physical disturbance, aiding long-distance distribution. Researchers noted that puffball fungi play an important ecological role as decomposers by breaking down plant residues and contributing to nutrient recycling, carbon cycling and soil organic matter formation. Several puffball species are also known for their nutritional value and the presence of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. At the same time, experts cautioned against consuming wild mushrooms without proper identification, as certain poisonous species can resemble edible puffballs during their early stages of development. The observation underscores the need for systematic surveys, herbarium documentation, microscopic studies and DNA barcoding of wild macrofungi in the Eastern Himalayan region to better understand their ecological significance and explore their agricultural, nutritional, medicinal and biotechnological potential. The field documentation was carried out with the active participation of ICAR-KVK Longding SMS (Horticulture) Vikas and SMS (L&WM Engineering) Dr Amit Kumar.    

TUTING : Marking World Environment Day, the Indian Army under Spear Corps organised a plantation and cleanliness drive at Tuting on Friday, reaffirming its commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable development in the frontier region. The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from the civil administration, school students, teachers, local residents and disciples of Buddhist monks from nearby monasteries, who joined Army personnel in a collective effort to preserve the region’s rich ecological heritage. The activities included tree plantation, cleanliness campaigns and awareness programmes aimed at promoting environmental responsibility and sustainable practices among the local community. Participants also exchanged views on conservation, waste management and the importance of maintaining a clean and green environment for future generations. The initiative highlighted the importance of community participation in environmental protection and fostered greater awareness about sustainable living practices. Nestled amid the pristine landscapes of Arunachal Pradesh, Tuting is known for its rich biodiversity and ecologically sensitive environment. Recognising the need to protect this natural heritage, the Indian Army has been undertaking various environmental and community outreach initiatives in collaboration with local stakeholders. The event also underscored the strong bond between the Indian Army and the local population, reflecting a shared commitment to ecological preservation and nation-building. The enthusiastic response from participants demonstrated that environmental protection remains a collective responsibility cutting across generations and communities. By bringing together diverse stakeholders on World Environment Day, the Indian Army once again reaffirmed its dedication to promoting environmental awareness, strengthening civil-military cooperation and contributing to a greener, cleaner and more sustainable future. (DIPR)