State News

YAZALI : The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) on Thursday distributed relief assistance worth more than ₹25 lakh to families affected by the recent cloudburst at Possa and NEEPCO Colony in Yazali, in one of the largest relief initiatives undertaken by the apex students’ body in response to a disaster. The relief outreach was led by AAPSU President Meje Taku, along with General Secretary Mato Bui, executive members, and representatives of district students’ unions from across the state. Local MLA Toko Tatung, Zilla Parishad Chairperson (ZPC) Nabam Piju, Zilla Parishad Members (ZPMs), senior leaders, and well-wishers also joined the delegation during the outreach. During the visit, AAPSU President Meje Taku, on behalf of the union, extended deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the tragedy, and expressed heartfelt solidarity with all those affected by the disaster. As part of the financial assistance, AAPSU provided ₹1,00,000 to each bereaved family that lost a loved one in the tragedy, ₹70,000 to every family whose house was completely destroyed, and ₹50,000 to each family that suffered partial damage. Alongside the cash assistance, the union distributed essential relief materials, including food items, vegetables, clothing, drinking water, and other daily necessities. The relief funds were mobilised through a state-wide voluntary donation drive conducted by AAPSU. A verified list of affected families, along with the corresponding financial aid, was formally handed over to ZPC Nabam Piju for direct and transparent distribution among the beneficiaries. After completing the allocation for affected families, AAPSU contributed the remaining balance of ₹8,40,000 to the HMLA Relief Care fund to support broader rehabilitation efforts in the area. The AAPSU delegation also took stock of the extent of destruction in the affected areas, including disruption to electricity, water supply, ration supplies, medical facilities, and other basic essentials. The union stated that it would take up these issues with the concerned authorities at the state level to ensure prompt restoration of services for the affected population. Speaking on the occasion, AAPSU President Meje Taku assured the affected families that the union would continue to stand by them through the recovery process. He appealed to the Government of Arunachal Pradesh to intensify efforts on relief, rehabilitation, and long-term recovery for those impacted by the calamity. Local leaders present at the event lauded AAPSU’s initiative, describing it as a reflection of the strength, compassion, and leadership potential of the state’s youth and student community during times of crisis.    

PASIGHAT : The East Siang District Police, in collaboration with Jawaharlal Nehru College (JNC), Pasighat, has successfully concluded a three-week Police Internship Programme for 42 students of the college. The internship, conducted from June 16 to July 6 under the supervision of East Siang Superintendent of Police Pankaj Lamba, aimed to provide students with first-hand exposure to policing and the criminal justice system while promoting legal awareness, civic responsibility, transparency and stronger police-public relations. The programme also complemented the district police’s ongoing ‘Know Your Police Station: Youth Engagement Programme’, which seeks to strengthen interaction between the police and young people through experiential learning. During the internship, the students were introduced to the day-to-day functioning of police stations, including registration of First Information Reports (FIRs), investigation procedures, maintenance of police records and the use of the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS). They also interacted with investigating officers and other police personnel to gain insights into policing, crime prevention, investigation and public service delivery. The interns attended interactive sessions on road safety, traffic management, disaster preparedness, fire safety, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, women and child protection laws, victim-centric policing and the functioning of the Women Police Station. Demonstrations by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Fire and Emergency Services familiarised them with emergency response, rescue operations and disaster management. The students also visited various branches of the Office of the Superintendent of Police, including the Establishment, Accounts and Wireless (WT) branches, where they learned about police administration, financial management, communication systems and the use of technology in policing. Speaking on the successful completion of the programme, East Siang Superintendent of Police Pankaj Lamba said meaningful engagement with students is essential for building trust between the police and the community. He said such initiatives provide young people with a better understanding of policing, encourage responsible citizenship and promote greater public participation in creating a safe and law-abiding society. The East Siang District Police thanked the principal, faculty members and students of Jawaharlal Nehru College for their cooperation and enthusiastic participation. It said the successful completion of the internship marked another step in its efforts to promote transparency, legal awareness and community-oriented policing through sustained engagement with educational institutions, adding that similar programmes would be organised in future. (DIPR)    

NAMSAI : The Namsai district administration, in collaboration with the Department of Art and Culture, commemorated the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee with a programme held at the District Library here on Friday. The programme began with a floral tribute to the eminent leader, remembering his vision, legacy and contribution to the nation. District Art and Culture Officer (DACO) Milingta Namchoom delivered the welcome address, highlighting Dr Mukherjee’s life and struggles while urging students to emulate his dedication to education, patriotism and public service. Resource person Michak Riram spoke on Dr Mukherjee’s belief that education is the foundation of national progress and highlighted the values of dedication, courage and commitment to society that guided his life. Another resource person, Bikram Chetry, recalled Dr Mukherjee’s sacrifices during the country’s Partition and described him as a pioneer of the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He encouraged students to cultivate unity, courage and a strong sense of service to the nation. Students of Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya and Kendriya Vidyalaya, Namsai, actively participated in the programme by sharing their reflections on the values and ideals inspired by Dr Mukherjee’s life. Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya Principal Shamokan P also attended the programme. The event concluded with enthusiastic participation from students and officials, reaffirming Dr Mukherjee’s enduring legacy and inspiring the younger generation to uphold the ideals of education, patriotism and national service. (DIPR)        

PASIGHAT : An Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday carried out an extensive assessment of flood-affected areas in East Siang and Lower Siang districts to evaluate the extent of damage caused by the recent floods and assess the requirement for additional Central assistance. The team, led by Ministry of Home Affairs Joint Secretary Nishtha Tiwari, was accompanied by Arunachal Pradesh Disaster Management Secretary Dani Salu. The officials inspected several flood-hit locations, beginning with the integrated farm of Olik Tapok Taloh at Ledum village, where extensive damage to agricultural land and infrastructure was reported. The team also visited Rema Bridge under Korang Circle, Tene Bridge under Koyu Circle in Lower Siang district, and Remi Bridge in East Siang district to assess damage to key public infrastructure and road connectivity. During the visit, district officials and representatives of the concerned departments briefed the team on the scale of destruction, restoration measures undertaken, and the immediate as well as long-term requirements for rehabilitation and reconstruction. The team also interacted with local residents, Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members and affected farmers to obtain first-hand accounts of the challenges faced by flood-hit communities. The assessment team was accompanied by 37th Pasighat West MLA Ninong Ering, Nari-Koyu MLA Tojir Kadu, East Siang Zilla Parishad Chairperson Ruth Tabing Boko, East Siang Deputy Commissioner Sonalika Jiwani, Ruksin Additional Deputy Commissioner, officials of line departments, PRI representatives, Gaon Burahs and other government officials. The visiting team appreciated the prompt response of the district administration and line departments in carrying out rescue, relief and restoration works despite adverse weather conditions. It assured that its findings would be compiled into a detailed report for consideration by the Government of India while evaluating the need for additional financial assistance for relief, restoration and reconstruction in the affected areas. The visit reflects the continued efforts of the Central and State Governments to assess the impact of the floods and facilitate timely assistance for the affected population while supporting the restoration of critical infrastructure.  

PASIGHAT : Arunachal Pradesh University (APU) Assistant Professor of Mass Communication Dr Prem Taba has been awarded the prestigious South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Research Grant (SRG) 2026-27 by the SAARC Cultural Centre (SCC), Colombo, for his research on museum heritage in the South Asian region. Dr Taba received the grant under the theme, “Interpreting Shared Heritage: Cross-Cultural Narratives in Museums in the SAARC Region.” The award was communicated through an official Letter of Offer dated July 8, signed by SAARC Cultural Centre Director Dr Kaushalya Kumarasinghe, who described the selection process as highly competitive and commended the proposal for its scholarly merit and relevance. His research project, titled “When the Vitrine Silences the Forest: Decolonising Tribal Heritage Communication in the Museums of the Eastern Himalayan SAARC Corridor,” will examine how the Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum in Itanagar and the National Museum of Bhutan in Paro represent, or fail to represent, the tribal communities of the region. Under the programme, each awardee receives a research grant of US $3,000, to be released in two installments—US $1,500 at the commencement of the project and the remaining amount upon submission and acceptance of the final research report. Expressing gratitude over the recognition, Dr Taba said the grant was a matter of pride not only for him but also for the academic and cultural community of Arunachal Pradesh. “This grant is a recognition that the heritage of our tribal communities belongs not only to Arunachal Pradesh, but to the shared cultural memory of South Asia. It is an opportunity to bring the voices of our people into a global conversation on how museums represent indigenous knowledge. I hope this work opens the door for more scholars from our region to engage with international academic and cultural institutions,” he said. The SAARC Research Grants 2026 programme was approved by the 15th Meeting of the Governing Board of the SAARC Cultural Centre in Colombo in August 2025 and subsequently endorsed at the 62nd Session of the SAARC Programming Committee in Kathmandu in February 2026. The programme invited research proposals from scholars across the eight SAARC member countries on the interpretation and communication of shared cultural heritage through museums. As part of the grant, Dr Taba will submit a publishable research report incorporating recommendations of the SAARC Cultural Centre’s Research Grants Committee, with the final work to undergo review, editing and possible publication under the Centre’s publications programme. Congratulating Dr Taba, Chief Minister Pema Khandu described the achievement as a proud moment for the state, noting that the highly competitive award would bring international attention to the rich heritage of Arunachal Pradesh’s tribal communities and strengthen the state’s presence on the global academic platform. Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein also congratulated Dr Taba, saying the recognition reflects the growing academic excellence of the state’s institutions. He expressed confidence that the research would make a meaningful contribution to the preservation and promotion of indigenous heritage and tribal narratives across the region. Extending his congratulations, Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona said the prestigious honour not only recognised Dr Taba’s scholarly contribution but also placed Arunachal Pradesh University on an important international research platform. He expressed hope that the achievement would inspire more scholars from the state to pursue excellence in research and innovation.      

ITANAGAR : Governor KT Parnaik on Thursday asked the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University, Shivaraj, to strengthen academic excellence by promoting quality research, with a special focus on the state’s biodiversity. The governor, who is also the chief rector of the state’s lone central university, made the remarks when Shivaraj called on him at Lok Bhavan shortly after assuming office, according to an official statement. Welcoming the new vice chancellor, Parnaik expressed confidence that under his leadership, the university would further strengthen its position as a centre of excellence in higher education, innovation and knowledge creation. He said professionalism, discipline, punctuality and commitment to academic pursuits should remain the defining values of the institution, while stressing the need to create an environment conducive to intellectual growth through the active participation of faculty, administrative staff and research scholars. The governor urged the vice chancellor to promote research on the state’s rich biodiversity, indigenous traditions, natural resources, environmental conservation and socio-economic development. He also called for greater emphasis on sports, wellness, community engagement and extension activities to help students develop into responsible citizens capable of contributing to society and nation-building. Shivaraj assured the governor of his commitment to strengthening academic standards, promoting meaningful research, improving institutional governance and fostering a vibrant campus culture, the statement said. He said he would work with all stakeholders to build on the university’s achievements and further establish Rajiv Gandhi University as a leading centre of higher learning, innovation and societal engagement in the region. Former vice chancellor-in-charge SK Nayak and registrar NT Rikam were also present during the meeting. (Source: PTI)