State News

TAWANG : Tawang Deputy Commissioner Namgyal Angmo on Thursday directed the Health Department to intensify immunisation outreach, strengthen healthcare infrastructure and address gaps in service delivery to ensure universal immunisation coverage across the district. Chairing the District Task Force for Immunisation (DTFI) meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall, Angmo reviewed the district’s immunisation performance and discussed measures to improve healthcare services. The meeting was attended by District Medical Officer Dr TD Namsa, District Reproductive and Child Health Officer Dr Rinchin Neema, Urban Development and Housing Executive Engineer Phurpa Lamu, District Project Coordinator (ISSE) Dhondup, Medical Officers, Health and Wellness Officers and representatives of various line departments. Earlier, Dr Neema presented a detailed review of the district’s immunisation status, highlighting government targets, achievements and areas requiring greater attention to achieve universal coverage. Addressing the meeting, Dr Namsa called for coordinated efforts to make Tawang the state’s best-performing district in immunisation. He directed Medical Officers to present health centre-wise performance reports at future DTFI meetings and urged every health facility to take greater ownership in improving coverage. Reviewing the progress, the DC instructed the Health Department to step up awareness campaigns and engage communities to dispel myths and misinformation surrounding immunisation. She stressed that no eligible beneficiary should be deprived of vaccination because of misconceptions. She also directed the department to increase awareness camps and outreach programmes, particularly in remote villages, to ensure immunisation services reach every eligible child and beneficiary. Highlighting the need to strengthen healthcare delivery, Angmo instructed the department to prepare a comprehensive assessment of manpower and infrastructure gaps across health facilities. She also asked executing agencies to expedite health infrastructure projects under the Vibrant Villages Programme and other government initiatives. The DC further directed officials to work with local communities to resolve land-related issues delaying health infrastructure projects. Expressing concern over the limited number of National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS)-certified health facilities in the state, she asked the department to prepare a roadmap for securing certification for targeted health institutions in the district. Angmo also directed that future DTFI meetings include presentations by health facility in-charges to enable them to share challenges, best practices and achievements, facilitating better coordination and knowledge-sharing. She further emphasised that quarterly meetings of the District Task Force for Immunisation (DTFI), Rogi Kalyan Samiti and District Health Society should be held regularly to identify bottlenecks in healthcare delivery and ensure their timely resolution. The meeting concluded with detailed deliberations on measures to strengthen immunisation coverage, improve healthcare infrastructure and enhance the overall quality of public health services in Tawang. (DIPR)

ITANAGAR : The ‘Gems of India Challenge – National Creator Initiative’, launched by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, entered its pilot phase in Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday, with district-level launch programmes organised across several districts to encourage digital creators to showcase the state’s rich cultural and natural heritage. The initiative seeks to identify, nurture and promote grassroots digital creators by encouraging them to produce authentic and engaging short-form content highlighting their district’s unique culture, traditions, history, tourism potential, biodiversity, local innovations and development stories. Built on the MyWAVES citizen-creator platform under WAVES OTT, the challenge aims to amplify local voices while promoting India’s diverse heritage through digital storytelling. Arunachal Pradesh is among the states and Union Territories selected for the pilot phase. Content creators will be able to submit original videos of one to three minutes through the MyWAVES section of the WAVES OTT platform from August 1 to August 31. The competition offers recognition at the district, state and national levels, including district awards of ₹50,000, state awards of ₹2 lakh and national awards of ₹5 lakh. At Yingkiong, the district-level launch was held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall under the chairmanship of Assistant Commissioner (Headquarters) Binti Mibang in the presence of members of the district jury, government officials, teachers, students and local content creators. Addressing the gathering, Mibang described the challenge as a significant initiative to promote India’s heritage through digital storytelling and urged content creators to showcase Upper Siang’s unique culture, traditions, natural beauty and success stories in a responsible and creative manner. She said quality digital content could strengthen tourism promotion, cultural preservation and public awareness. Assistant Director of Tourism Onam Darang Pertin said the initiative offered a valuable platform for young creators to highlight Upper Siang’s breathtaking landscapes, vibrant tribal traditions, handloom and handicrafts, local cuisine and cultural heritage. She encouraged participants to approach the challenge with creativity, sincerity and discipline. Earlier, District Information and Public Relations Officer (DIPRO) Yalik Jerang outlined the objectives, themes, participation guidelines and opportunities under the challenge through a presentation, while a promotional video produced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was screened for participants. The programme concluded with an interactive session encouraging youths and aspiring creators to actively participate in the challenge. In Lohit district, the launch programme was held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall in Tezu, where DIPRO Nyatum Doke introduced the initiative and explained its objectives, participation guidelines, selection process and opportunities available to digital creators. He informed participants that the challenge seeks to identify and promote grassroots digital creators by encouraging them to produce authentic stories on local culture, heritage, tourism, traditions, history and achievements through the MyWAVES platform. Lohit DC Kesang Ngurup Damo, who also chairs the district jury, urged content creators to make full use of digital platforms to showcase the district’s diverse communities, natural beauty, historical sites, traditional knowledge and developmental achievements. He called on creators to produce original, meaningful and responsible content that truthfully reflects the identity and aspirations of Lohit district. The programme also featured the screening of an introductory video on the initiative, followed by an interactive session on participation procedures and technical requirements. It concluded with an appeal to local creators to utilise the platform to bring the district’s unique stories to national and global audiences. In Changlang, the district-level launch and demonstration of the ‘Gems of India’ Creator Initiative was organized at the DC Office, drawing enthusiastic participation from content creators, photographers, videographers, filmmakers, vloggers, students, artists, social media influencers and other creative enthusiasts from across the district. Welcoming the participants, District Informatics Officer Shiva Ram Krishna highlighted the initiative as a unique national platform for showcasing Changlang’s rich cultural heritage, traditions, tourism potential, handicrafts, biodiversity, festivals and inspiring local stories through original digital content. A live demonstration of the MyWAVES platform familiarised participants with the registration process, content submission procedure, eligibility criteria and content guidelines. An interactive session was also held to address participants’ queries and encourage the creation of high-quality digital content reflecting the district’s unique identity. Concluding the programme, the District Art and Culture Officer appreciated the enthusiastic participation of aspiring creators and encouraged them to utilise the MyWAVES platform to showcase Changlang’s culture, heritage, tourism and local talent on a national stage. Meanwhile, the Tirap district administration, in collaboration with the Department of Information and Public Relations (IPR), also launched the initiative at the DC’s conference hall. The programme was attended by Tirap DC Badonlum Tawsik, DIPRO Ponung Tasing, Deputy Director of School Education KC Lowangcha, District Tourism Officer Rigio Tabam, other district officials, local content creators, students and youths. The officials will serve as members of the district jury to evaluate entries submitted under the challenge. Launching the programme, DC Tawsik described the challenge as an opportunity for the district’s youth to present Tirap’s identity before a national audience. He encouraged aspiring creators to produce original and engaging content showcasing the district’s vibrant tribal culture, festivals, scenic landscapes, historical sites, handicrafts, local cuisine and inspiring stories of its people. Highlighting Tirap’s immense potential in cultural, heritage, eco and adventure tourism, he said digital storytelling has emerged as a powerful medium for preserving indigenous traditions while creating new livelihood opportunities for local communities. Earlier, DIPRO Ponung Tasing presented an overview of the challenge, explaining its objectives, thematic categories, prize structure and registration process through the MyWAVES platform. She encouraged participants to showcase Tirap’s indigenous knowledge systems, responsible tourism initiatives, local innovations and developmental achievements through authentic digital content. The Deputy Director of School Education and the District Tourism Officer also urged students and aspiring creators to use their creativity to highlight the district’s educational progress, cultural diversity, tourism potential, entrepreneurial spirit and the aspirations of its youth. The programme concluded with an interactive session during which participants exchanged ideas on creating impactful digital content centred on Tirap’s culture, tourism, environment, education, indigenous heritage and developmental journey.      

ITANAGAR : Information and Public Relations (IPR) Minister Nyato Dukam on Wednesday called upon electronic and digital media professionals to uphold ethical journalism with sincerity, discipline and responsibility while embracing technological advancements. Addressing the 14th Foundation Day celebration of the Arunachal Electronic and Digital Media Association (AEDMA) and the fourth AEDMA Conclave on the theme, “Empowering Change through Information,” at the State Banquet Hall here, Dukam stressed the importance of fact-checking and responsible reporting to preserve public trust and strengthen democratic values. He said the media plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency and accountability by highlighting shortcomings in governance and drawing attention to instances where government schemes fail to reach their intended beneficiaries. Emphasising constructive engagement between the government and the media, the minister urged journalists to provide meaningful feedback and point out deficiencies to improve governance and the implementation of public welfare programmes. Expressing concern over the rise of unregulated mobile-based journalism, Dukam said professional journalism was increasingly being undermined by individuals lacking journalistic training and ethics. He urged the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ), the Arunachal Press Club (APC) and AEDMA to work together to streamline the profession and identify genuine journalists and media organisations. Speaking on the occasion, Arunachal Press Club (APC) President Amar Sangno urged journalists to prioritise quality reporting and uphold professional standards by avoiding sensationalism and exaggerated reporting. “Every journalist must adhere to media ethics and should not resort to distorted information,” Sangno said. Deputy Inspector General of Police Tumme Amo emphasised the need for verifying facts before placing information in the public domain and advised media professionals not to be influenced or misled by vested interests. Appreciating the role of journalists in society, he said every report should be authentic, accurate and free from bias. Arunachal Frontier Tribal Front (ATFT) Chairman Patey Tayum also underscored the responsibility of journalists, saying information disseminated to readers and viewers must remain factual, impartial and credible. Earlier, AEDMA President JT Tagam appealed for the establishment of a dedicated mass media institute, particularly for training video journalists. Responding to the proposal, Dukam assured that a meeting would be convened to discuss the matter in detail. The programme also witnessed the release of the AEDMA Journal and featured three panel discussions on “Empowering Arunachal Through Information: Bridging Knowledge, Opportunity and Development,” “Digital Media and Citizen Empowerment: Who Shapes the Narrative in the Information Age?” and “Media Freedom and Responsibility: Reporting Without Fear or Favour.”      

ITANAGAR : Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Wednesday said the government has taken another step towards strengthening the state’s power infrastructure with the successful commissioning of the 132 kV Miao-Namsai transmission line, a key project expected to improve electricity reliability in Changlang district and adjoining areas. Sharing the development in a social media post, Mein said the commissioning of the nearly 41-km transmission line marks another important milestone in the state’s journey towards a “stronger, more reliable, and future-ready power infrastructure”. The commissioning of the transmission line has been implemented under the Comprehensive Scheme for Strengthening of Transmission and Distribution System (CSST&DS). “The nearly 41-km transmission line connecting Namsai, Diyun and Miao will significantly enhance power reliability in Changlang district and adjoining areas, strengthen grid connectivity, reduce dependence on long radial networks, and support the region’s growing energy needs,” Mein, who holds the power and hydropower portfolios, said in a post on X. Highlighting the progress made under the ambitious power infrastructure programme, the deputy chief minister said the state has already commissioned 91 out of 239 project components, reflecting steady advancement towards creating a modern and resilient electricity network. Mein congratulated Powergrid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), the state power department, district administrations, executing agencies and all other stakeholders for achieving the milestone. The CSST&DS is one of the Centre’s largest power infrastructure initiatives for the northeastern region and was approved to strengthen the transmission and distribution network in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. The scheme seeks to improve grid connectivity, ensure reliable electricity supply, reduce transmission losses and support socio-economic development in remote and border areas of the two Himalayan states. The project, being implemented by PGCIL in coordination with the state government, includes the construction of transmission lines, substations and associated distribution infrastructure to modernise the state’s power network. According to officials, the scheme is targeted for completion by 2027 and is expected to significantly improve power availability, operational reliability and integration of the state’s expanding electricity system with the national grid. (Source: PTI)