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At the heart of this grassroots movement is Gekong Pertin, a social worker and the driving force behind SFW. Under his leadership, villagers have continued flood defense efforts with contributions in both labor and machinery, hauling boulders from remote areas such as Silluk and Sigar to fortify riverbanks. Pertin emphasized that the urgency of the situation required immediate action as traditional funding channels failed to materialize in time.
Adding credibility and encouragement to the initiative, WRD Pasighat Division Executive Engineer Onit Panyang, along with AE Alat Megu and team, visited the site to inspect the progress and show solidarity. Panyang also contributed ₹50,000 from his personal funds—a gesture symbolizing the importance of public-private solidarity in times of crisis.
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Despite several proposals being submitted for government-sanctioned flood mitigation schemes, no funds have yet been approved. This bureaucratic lag has reinforced the community’s resolve to act independently. With Siang River’s aggressive erosion pattern already having claimed hundreds of hectares of land along its left bank, the villagers’ swift, voluntary response may prove to be the difference between disaster and resilience.
As the monsoons approach, the efforts at Borguli stand as a testament to rural agency, cooperation, and the power of local leadership when governmental systems fall short.