Gangtok
Arunachal is moving towards self-reliance as it is coming up with policies to tap state’s vast resources to convert it into capital, Said the Chief Minister Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu in the review meeting of India-China border infrastructure chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, which was also attended by Chief Ministers and representatives of five Himalayan states bordering China held at Chintan Bhawan here. The Chief Minister said Arunachal started very late in development sphere and called for continued support from centre as it is 100% dependent on it.
The Chief Minister in his speech appreciated the initiative of Home Ministry to hold such meeting calling it as historic move and requested to hold such meetings every year. He appealed the Union Home Minister to hold next meeting in Arunachal and offered full support of the state government to host it.
The Chief Minister in his presentation raised connectivity in Arunachal as the biggest hurdle to development. He specifically raised concern over migration of people away from the border areas due to lack of basic public facilities and called for steps from the centre to prevent it.
He appreciated the initiative of centre to build frontier highway in the state connecting 11 districts bordering China. He said the highway would immensely benefit the border people as well benefit the defence personnel for movement along the borders.
The Chief Minister informed the Union Minister on declining public perception on BRO’s work efficiency, which according to ground level BRO officials was attributed to decrease in funds availability with the organisation. He therefore requested the centre to empower the
organisation financially so that works on border roads should not suffer.
Speaking on BADP scheme, the Chief Minister appreciated the Home Ministry for enhancing the fund from Rs 900 crore to Rs 1100 crore this year. He, however, said when these BADP funds are broken down among the states, Arunachal gets very less share. He also raised the inability of the state to pay 10% share for release of BADP funds. The Chief Minister therefore requested the Union Home Ministry to take up the matter in the next cabinet.
On relation shared with people of Arunachal with defence and paramilitary forces, the Chief Minister said the presence of these forces has contributed much to the development of the state. He said Arunachal is only state in North East where Hindi is spoken on large scale and attributed it to presence of forces in the state.
On state government’s support to central paramilitary forces, the Chief Minister informed the Union Home Minister that the state cabinet has decided to grant Rs 50 lakhs instead of earlier Rs 2 lakhs ex-gratia for those central forces jawans that are martyred while on duty in Arunachal. He also informed that for those jawans left physically disabled in action will be granted Rs 10 lakhs instead of earlier amount of Rs 1 lakh.
The Chief Minister specifically thanked the ITBP for having good relation with the Arunachali people and conducting various programmes such as health camp in building trust among people towards the defence forces. He thanked the Union Home Minister to shift frontier ITBP headquarter from Shillong to Itanagar and demanded for a battalion
headquarter in state capital.
Sports Parliamentary Secretary Nyamar Karbak, Principal Secretary Satya Gopal and DGP Sandeep Goel accompanied the Chief Minister in his visit to Sikkim.
