State News

PASIGHAT, AUG 16: The District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP) 2026–27 of East Siang district was formally released on Saturday during the 80th Independence Day celebration at the Outdoor Stadium here. The plan was released by MLA Tapi Darang during the inauguration of the Disaster Management Exhibition Stall. Deputy Commissioner East Siang, Superintendent of Police East Siang, Padma Shri awardee Yanong Jamoh Lego, Heads of Departments and Offices, public leaders, Panchayati Raj Institution members and other dignitaries attended the programme. The release marks a significant step towards strengthening disaster preparedness and institutional capacity in the district. The DDMP provides a framework for disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response and recovery, with emphasis on coordinated action among departments and stakeholders during emergencies. The plan is expected to further strengthen the district’s capacity to respond to natural and other disasters and promote a coordinated and resilient approach to disaster management. The occasion reaffirmed the collective commitment of the district administration and stakeholders towards building a safer and more disaster-resilient East Siang. (DIPR)

ITANAGAR, AUG 15: Five Army personnel went missing after a flash flood triggered by heavy rainfall washed away two shelters in Dibang Valley district, while four people died in a major landslide on a road construction site in Upper Subansiri district, officials said on Saturday. According to the State Emergency Operations Centre here, both incidents occurred on Friday evening. The landslide occurred at the Keojaring-Byaching road cutting site in Upper Subansiri district. While several people were buried under the debris, four people — Tadu Baki, Taji Rai, Markosh Basumatari and Babul Ali — were reported dead in the incident. The body of Babul Ali has been recovered, said the district disaster management officer of Upper Subansiri. Persnnel from Nacho Police Station have been deployed for the search and recovery operation. Fire and Emergency Services personnel are also being mobilised from Daporijo, while a team of the State Disaster Response Force will assist in the operation. In Dibang Valley district, two shelters of the 5th Grenadier at the Pasu Pani Army Camp were washed away by a flash flood triggered by heavy rainfall on Friday evening. Officials said that the flash flood swept away seven Army personnel and two of them were rescued, while five remain missing. The missing personnel have been identified as Havaldar Upendar and Army personnel Kundan, Vinod, Aditya and Samunda. Two search and rescue teams from the 5th Grenadier have already been deployed. Teams comprising personnel of the 58th Battalion of the ITBP, 62 RCC of the General Reserve Engineer Force, local volunteers and the Arunachal Pradesh Police have been rushed to the site for the search operation. An SDRF team from Pasighat is also proceeding to Anini to assist in the rescue operation. (Source: PTI)      

NAMSAI, AUG 15: The Tai Khamti Heritage Archive website was launched at the Multipurpose Cultural Hall here on Saturday by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, marking a significant step towards digitally preserving and promoting the linguistic, literary and cultural heritage of the Tai Khamti community. Namsai MLA Chau Zingnu Namchoom, Deputy Commissioner Lobsang Tsering, Commissioner of Narcotics, Tax and Excise CR Khampa, Superintendent of Police, Namsai, representatives of community-based organisations, Gaon Burahs, monks, student organisations and other dignitaries attended the launch. The digital archive seeks to preserve oral traditions, traditional knowledge, photographs, manuscripts, scripts, language, customs and other cultural resources of the Tai Khamti community, while making them accessible for education, research and knowledge sharing. Welcoming the gathering, Golden Pagoda Head Monk Ven. Vimmalatissa stressed the need for systematic documentation and digitisation of Tai Khamti heritage. He called for active participation of schools, monasteries and community institutions in preserving and transmitting the community’s cultural identity. Nanda Foundation Chairman Mrinal Talukdar introduced the project and urged the younger generation to actively contribute to preserving the Tai Khamti language, script, manuscripts and traditions through digital platforms. Commissioner CR Khampa emphasised the importance of documenting the contributions and knowledge of senior elders and traditional knowledge holders, describing their experiences as an invaluable part of Tai Khamti heritage. DC Lobsang Tsering termed the initiative an important step towards preserving and digitising the Tai Khamti script and cultural heritage and ensuring wider access to these resources for future generations. MLA Namchoom appreciated the initiative and stressed the need to preserve the Tai Khamti language and script for younger generations. He called upon the community to take collective responsibility for safeguarding its cultural identity. Addressing the gathering, Mein highlighted the historical and cultural significance of the Tai Khamti community and said preservation of language and culture was a collective responsibility. He urged the community to undertake necessary initiatives to ensure that the language continues to be taught and used. Mein suggested that Tai Khamti could be promoted as a third language in schools from Class I onwards in Namsai district, subject to the required institutional and educational framework. He also stressed the need to appoint Tai Khamti language teachers in monasteries to facilitate structured learning. He encouraged the younger generation to learn and use the language and remain connected with their cultural roots, while making effective use of the digital archive for learning, research and preservation. The public can access the archive at khamtis.org. The launch was described as an important step towards ensuring that Tai Khamti language, script, traditions, knowledge and cultural heritage are preserved and passed on to future generations.  

ITANAGAR, AUG 15: The Arunachal Press Club (APC) and Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) celebrated the 80th Independence Day at the APC premises at Ganga here on Saturday. The observance marked the third Independence Day celebration at the Press Club’s permanent premises since its inauguration in 2022. The APC began holding the annual celebration at its own premises in 2024, followed by the 2025 observance under the then leadership of Dodum Yangfo. This year’s celebration was held under APC president Amar Sangno. Sangno hoisted the National Flag and addressed members of the media fraternity on the significance of Independence Day and the importance of continuing the tradition at the Press Club’s permanent premises. “APC shall continue this tradition of celebrating not only Independence Day but also Republic Day with the same energy, now that we have our own office building,” Sangno said. Extending Independence Day greetings to fellow journalists, he urged members of the media fraternity to remember the freedom fighters and fallen heroes whose sacrifices paved the way for the country’s independence. The programme was attended by APUWJ president Dodum Yangfo, APC general secretary Damien Lepcha, APUWJ general secretary Sonam Jelly and other office-bearers and members of the two organisations. Stuents from local schools also participated in the celebration, adding a youthful presence to the national observance.    

ITANAGAR, AUG 14: An indefinite bandh called by community-based organisations (CBOs), students’ unions and NGOs of Lekang Circle in Namsai district began at 5 am on Friday over their demand for protection of government employment opportunities for domicile and resident certificate holders, with protesters warning that a legal challenge to the state’s reservation policy could have far-reaching consequences. The organisations are enforcing road blockades at Banka Bridge, Bordumsa Gate and Dirak Gate as part of the agitation. Horojit Morang, a leader of the protesting organisations questioned the Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet’s recent decision on uniform eligibility criteria for government recruitment, describing it as “unconstitutional” and warning that litigation could put the state’s existing reservation arrangement under judicial scrutiny. “If tomorrow somebody files a PIL and the reservation is struck down or reduced to 50:50, the unions and organisations which demanded such changes will have to take responsibility,” the leader said. Morang claimed that both the state government and the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) were aware of the possible legal implications. Citing the Supreme Court’s landmark 1992 judgment in Indra Sawhney v. Union of India, the leader said the nine-judge bench had laid down a general 50 per cent ceiling on reservations while upholding 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes in public employment. “We will not take the matter to court for now. Our demand is that reservation and employment protection must be ensured for the people of Lekang. If this is not done, we will take democratic steps,” he said. The protesting organisations had also submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Pema Khandu on August 12 seeking inclusion of domicile certificate-holding candidates of Lekang Circle as eligible candidates for government employment in the state. In the memorandum, the organisations said the existing 80:20 reservation arrangement provided 80 per cent of vacancies for APST candidates and 20 per cent for non-APST candidates. They said a section of indigenous and original inhabitants of Lekang Circle did not possess APST certificates but held valid domicile or resident certificates issued by competent authorities. They cited historical land records and survey records, including those relating to the 1968 land survey, in support of their claim. The organisations expressed apprehension that if the existing 80:20 arrangement was scrapped and government employment made exclusively available to APST candidates, domicile certificate-holding candidates from Lekang could become ineligible for state government employment. They urged the government to ensure that genuine domicile or resident certificate holders of Lekang are not deprived of recruitment opportunities solely because they do not possess APST certificates. The memorandum also sought an appropriate provision or category for eligible domicile certificate holders of Lekang in any revised recruitment or reservation policy and requested the government and the Joint High-Powered Committee to examine the area’s historical records, domicile status and circumstances before finalising the policy. The agitation comes after the Cabinet headed by Khandu approved uniform eligibility criteria for direct recruitment to Group A, B and C posts, making permanent residence, APST or indigenous status and proficiency in at least one indigenous tribal language mandatory requirements. The APPSC and APSSB have been directed to incorporate the new eligibility provisions in future recruitment processes. (Source: NewsFY)