State News

ZIRO : World Blood Donor Day was observed across Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday with voluntary blood donation camps, awareness programmes and felicitation ceremonies aimed at promoting regular blood donation and strengthening emergency blood reserves. In Itanagar, Heema Hospital organised a mega voluntary blood donation camp in collaboration with the Arunachal Life Saving Foundation (ALSF) and the Blood Bank of Ramakrishna Mission Hospital. Attending the programme as chief guest, Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) Mayor Likha Nari Tadar said blood donation remains one of the most effective ways to save lives during medical emergencies. Emphasising the importance of voluntary donation, she noted that blood cannot be manufactured despite advances in medical technology and appealed to citizens to come forward and donate regularly. Heema Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Kesang W Thongdok said the state requires around 15,000 units of blood annually, while only about 13,000 units are currently collected, leaving a significant gap between demand and supply. He stressed the need for more intensive blood donation drives to bridge the shortfall. Arunachal Life Saving Foundation Chairman Ramesh Jeke highlighted the organisation’s efforts in creating awareness and organising blood donation camps across the state. A total of 55 units of blood were collected during the camp and transferred to the Ramakrishna Mission Hospital Blood Bank. Mayor Likha Nari Tadar also donated blood during the programme. The event was attended by Heema Hospital Chairman and Managing Director Dr Byabang Rana, Rajiv Gandhi University Department of Social Work Head Prof K P Singh, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha State President Tame Siang Tarh and others. Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha members, students of Dera Natung Government College and staff of Heema Hospital and Ramakrishna Mission Hospital participated in the camp. Meanwhile, in Ziro, the Blood Centre of Gyati Takka Zonal General Hospital, in collaboration with CRC Hapoli Youth (26th Youth Foundation), organised a voluntary blood donation camp and felicitation programme under the theme “One Drop of Humanity, Give Blood, Save Life”. The initiative resulted in the collection of 15 units of blood, including three units of A-positive, two units of B-positive, nine units of O-positive and one unit of AB-positive blood, providing a valuable boost to the hospital’s emergency reserves. 756 Border Roads Task Force (General Reserve Engineer Force) Project Arunank Captain Chirag Singhal attended the programme as chief guest and underscored the importance of community participation in strengthening healthcare services, particularly in remote areas. A felicitation ceremony was also held to recognise individuals and organisations for their contributions to blood donation awareness, donor mobilisation and emergency blood support. Among those honoured were 756 Border Roads Task Force Project Arunank Captain Chirag Singhal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police 60th Battalion Second-in-Command Ajit Kumar Pegu, Arunachal Baptist Association Executive Secretary Dani Tadu, Hapoli Youth Organisation General Secretary and Ziro Residents’ East Vice Chief Hage Duyu, CRC Hapoli General Secretary Jiren Teron, St Claret College Ziro National Service Scheme Programme Officers Tage Tagyung and Nending Sumpi, District Health Youth Association President Hage Chobing, Joram Tado, Topi Sora, Hano Usha, Tumter Riba, Pebi Gamlin and Perpum Gamlin. Special recognition was accorded to Pyagang Tapu for his consistent support during emergencies requiring rare Rh-negative blood donations. The organisers and hospital authorities expressed gratitude to all donors, volunteers and partner organisations for their support and reiterated the importance of regular blood donation in ensuring timely access to safe blood for patients in need.

ITANAGAR :  Agriculture and Horticulture minister Gabriel D Wangsu on Saturday stressed the need for a scientific and evidence-based approach to agricultural development, asserting that projects aimed at transforming the state’s farm sector must be rooted in extensive research and ground realities. Chairing a meeting with officials of the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Ltd (NERAMAC) at Guwahati, Wangsu reviewed a series of proposals relating to fruit processing, plantation expansion, mushroom cultivation and large cardamom marketing. During the deliberations, the minister underscored the importance of authentic and region-specific project documentation, directing officials to ensure that all data, photographs and field assessments accurately reflect local conditions. “We should not rely on copied or generic information. Every proposal must accurately reflect the realities of our region,” Wangsu said. Emphasising the need to move beyond discussions on the state’s agricultural potential, he said the focus should be on achieving practical and measurable outcomes that directly benefit farmers and rural communities. “There is little value in repeatedly talking about the vast potential of our land if we are unable to effectively harness it. Our focus should be on practical and measurable outcomes,” he said. Wangsu directed NERAMAC and departmental officials to identify the most suitable locations for cultivating Gucci (Morchella spp.) mushrooms, Shiitake mushrooms and large cardamom and develop them as model clusters before scaling up successful interventions across the state. He said the cluster-based approach would help generate reliable data, assess market viability and create sustainable value chains for farmers. Reiterating the state government’s commitment to strengthening the agriculture and horticulture sectors, Wangsu assured NERAMAC of full cooperation and institutional support for projects that can improve farmers’ incomes and create new market opportunities. The meeting discussed proposals for an Integrated Fruit Processing, Fruit Park and Plantation Expansion Project, an end-to-end value chain development project for Gucci and Shiitake mushrooms, and the establishment of an e-auction centre for large cardamom in Arunachal Pradesh. Expressing optimism over the proposed initiatives, the minister said he hoped the discussions would translate into concrete benefits for farmers, entrepreneurs and producer groups while contributing to the long-term growth of the state’s horticulture and plantation economy.      

YAZALI : In a move aimed at strengthening the education sector in Keyi Panyor district, Yachuli MLA Toko Tatung on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with educational technology firm Ekluvya to introduce a digital learning platform for students and teachers across the constituency. The agreement was signed by Tatung and Keyi Panyor Mission Plan 2040 CEO Vijayan M J with Ekluvya CEO Aneil Deepak as part of the Comprehensive Action Plan for Education (CAPE) under the Keyi Panyor Mission Plan 2040. The initiative seeks to improve academic outcomes for students studying in Classes VI to XII while also providing specialised coaching support for competitive examinations such as NEET and JEE through digital learning resources, expert mentorship and continuous academic assistance. Speaking on the occasion, the stakeholders reiterated that education should be treated as a tool for social transformation rather than a business enterprise. The programme focuses on strengthening educational infrastructure, improving accountability and ensuring equitable access to quality education for all students. As part of the broader education reform agenda, extensive teacher training programmes were conducted across the district on June 8 and 9 to enhance classroom effectiveness and learning outcomes. A separate programme was also organised on June 10 to recognise and build the capacity of Anganwadi workers, highlighting their role in early childhood care and foundational learning. According to officials, the digital learning initiative will be provided free of cost to students, ensuring that children enrolled in government schools have access to quality educational resources and modern learning tools without placing any additional financial burden on families. The initiative is expected to help bridge learning gaps, improve educational standards and restore confidence in government schools while advancing the vision of making Keyi Panyor a model constituency for educational excellence and inclusive development. Officials said the programme reflects a long-term commitment to empowering students, teachers, Anganwadi workers and educational institutions to contribute meaningfully to the district’s future growth and development.