ITANAGAR : The Press Information Bureau (PIB), under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, on Monday organised ‘Vartalap 2026’, a media outreach programme in Itanagar on Monday highlighting the Union government’s developmental initiatives over the past 12 years while promoting the nationwide ‘Gems of India’ Challenge aimed at empowering grassroots digital creators.

Held under the theme, “12 Years of the Union Government: From Empowerment to Prosperity – A Step Towards the Future,” the programme sought to strengthen engagement with regional media, disseminate information on key developmental achievements and encourage youth participation in digital storytelling.

Among those present were PIB Itanagar Joint Director Utsav Parmar, Arunachal Pradesh Information and Public Relations (IPR) Director Gijum Tali and Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) Professor Sanjeev Kumar Jena.

Addressing the gathering, Parmar described the ‘Gems of India’ Challenge as a national platform that would enable young creators to showcase Arunachal Pradesh’s rich cultural heritage, traditions and history through innovative digital content.

He encouraged the state’s youth to participate actively, saying the initiative would not only provide national recognition to emerging storytellers but also help introduce the unique identity of Arunachal Pradesh to audiences across the country.

Parmar also highlighted improvements in the state’s education, healthcare and connectivity sectors over the past 12 years.

Speaking on the occasion, Tali said the state had witnessed significant progress in infrastructure and air and road connectivity under various central initiatives, leading to notable socio-economic transformation. He said initiatives such as the ‘Gems of India’ Challenge would further empower local youth by promoting effective visual communication and digital creativity.

Prof Jena highlighted the country’s progress in infrastructure, healthcare and digital sectors, while stressing the need to build sustainable economic ecosystems, particularly in frontier states such as Arunachal Pradesh, to ensure inclusive and long-term development.

The ‘Vartalap’ outreach series is an initiative of the Press Information Bureau aimed at strengthening dialogue among government communicators, academic institutions and regional media for the effective dissemination of public policies and developmental programmes.