ZIRO/YAZALI : Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Tai Tagak on Sunday announced Lower Subansiri district as his Parliamentary Nodal District, pledging to work closely with local legislators and the district administration to accelerate the district’s overall development.

The announcement was made during the 37th Dree Festival celebration at Hanoko Ground in Hong village, where Tagak attended as the chief guest. He said coordinated efforts among elected representatives, government agencies and local stakeholders would help transform the district into a model of inclusive and sustainable development.

During the function, the MP also launched a digital directory prepared by the Ziro Tourism Organisation to promote tourism and strengthen the local economy. He paid tribute to the Dree Nyibus for preserving the Apatani community’s indigenous traditions and felicitated meritorious Class X and XII students of Hong village.

As part of his support for the festival, Tagak handed over ₹2.5 lakh to the organising committee through Niiti Zilla Parishad Member-cum-organising secretary Kago Kampu and announced the donation of a mithun for the next edition of the Dree Festival.

Earlier, the MP visited flash flood-affected areas of Possa and the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) colony under Yazali Circle in Keyi Panyor district, accompanied by Nyapin MLA Tai Nikio and Raga MLA Rotom Tebin. Interacting with families displaced by the June 24 flash flood, he expressed solidarity with the victims and reviewed the ongoing relief measures.

Tagak handed over ₹2.5 lakh each to Yachuli MLA Toko Tatung and Keyi Panyor Deputy Commissioner Shweta Nagarkoti Mehta. The ₹5 lakh assistance will be utilised as ex gratia relief of ₹50,000 each for the families of the five persons who lost their lives in the disaster. The contribution follows an earlier emergency assistance of ₹7 lakh extended by the MP to the district administration on June 30.

He also assured residents and officials of the NEEPCO colony that he would pursue comprehensive rehabilitation measures with both the state and central governments.

During his visit to Lower Subansiri, Tagak participated in the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ plantation drive at the Industrial Training Institute campus in Dilopolyang, Ziro, organised in association with the Hong Dree Festival Committee. He encouraged students to embrace innovation, entrepreneurship and contribute towards building an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The MP also visited Achukuru (Mother’s Home) at Old Ziro, a shelter for orphaned, homeless and destitute women and children. Appreciating the humanitarian service rendered by its founder Tailyang Santhi, he donated mattresses, fruits and ₹1 lakh in financial assistance, besides assuring support for improving road connectivity to the institution.

The two-day tour marked Tagak’s first official visit to the region after assuming office as a Rajya Sabha member, with a focus on disaster relief, development, environmental conservation and cultural preservation.