Northeast Desk, 24th January: In a recent address during his two-day tour of the Upper Siang district, Chief Minister Pema Khandu revealed plans for a transformative shift in Arunachal Pradesh’s planning process. He affirmed that the new approach, to be implemented post-elections, will prioritize grassroots involvement, ensuring the state plan is shaped by input from villagers and on-the-ground officers.
Arunachal Pradesh is gearing up for simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls this year. Khandu emphasized that the revamped planning model will facilitate holistic development in all villages, minimizing resource wastage and optimizing government funds. The chief minister also expressed confidence that the Vibrant Village program, a flagship initiative under the central government, will bring rapid transformation to the Tuting area in the district.
Commending Prime Minister Narendra Modi for redefining the concept of border villages, Khandu highlighted the remarkable improvements in connectivity—be it roads, air, rail, or digital—under the current central and state governments. The Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP), launched in 2023, aims at the comprehensive development of select villages in 46 blocks across 19 districts, including those along the northern border.
Khandu praised Union Home Ministry’s recent approval of approximately 1,022 km of roads for Arunachal Pradesh under the program. Expressing gratitude, he noted that the state has the highest number of border villages enlisted in the initiative. The chief minister also lauded Health Minister Alo Libang for contributing to the overall development of the district.
Anticipating a surge in tourism activities upon completion of the new Yingkiong-Tuting road, Khandu urged members of five communities in the district to coexist peacefully and actively participate in the development of border areas. He emphasized the historic peaceful coexistence among communities in the northernmost part of the district sharing an international border with Tibet-China.
In conclusion, Khandu celebrated the diverse and harmonious nature of Upper Siang’s Tuting administrative division, acknowledging the uniqueness, distinctiveness, and independence of each resident.
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