Pema Khandu joins cleanliness service at Hija village
Ziro
Chief Minister Pema Khandu today joined the two year completion of cleanliness service, organised every second Saturday by the All Hija Youth Association (AHYA) under the aegis of Apatani Youth Association (AYA), here at Hija village today. Accompanied by PHED Minister Takam Pario, Hydropower Parliamentary Secretary Phosum Khimhun, Raga MLA Tamar Murtem and Ziro MLA Tage Taki, the Chief Minister joined in the mass cleanliness drive by cleaning the streets of Hija village by wielding locally made bamboo broom.
The Chief Minister walked round the streets of the Hija village escorted by AYA President Taku Chatung and AHYA leaders to inspect the cleanliness drive carried out by various local youth forums. The streets everywhere bore the signs of Clean India campaign. Khandu also visited the Dibo village and met the All Dibo Youth Forum (ADYF) and encouraged them on their cleanliness. He visited every streets and colony of Hija village inhabited by different Apatani clans, such as Pura, Dani, Taku, Kago, Nada, Hoj etc.Concluding his foot march around the Hija village, the Chief Minister stopped at Kago Lapang, which is a centrally located place in the village where public meetings are conducted.
Attending the public meeting organised by AHYA, CM Khandu addressed the mass gatherings of public, Gaon Burahs, students, youths and the head of the departments. He congratulated the Hija community for completion of its second year of mass cleanliness service and appreciated the drive for encouraging community participation. Pointing out Prime Minister of India’a goal to achieve Open Defection Free (ODF) India by 2019, the Chief Minister said the state government will always work closely with the community to help build individual house hold latrines or community latrines. He appreciated the Apatani community’s strong sense of unity, coordination and sense of helping attitude for its people and said that rest of tribe from Arunachal could learn from them. Speaking on the steps being taken by him for development, CM Khandu said that despite state facing Rs 4000 crore liabilities, he has decided to hold the state development council (SDC) meeting on November 22 next, which generally is not possible when the state is resource strapped.
By conducting the SDC meeting, he hoped to give more funds to the departments by which every constituencies will get equal opportunities to develop and the funds will reach at village level. The Chief Minister said he aims to increase money transactions by increasing cash flow in the market. He said the state government will allocate 10% addition to the last year’s department allocation adding that additional Rs 100 crore will be allocated for AOP. He also informed that Rs 10 crore for every constituencies has been earmarked already. The Chief Minister assured the people that they must not worry from where the money will come. Brining money is my work, your work is to see that the money is spent wisely on the ground, he said.
CM Khandu hit out at oft-repeated statements of Arunachal being resource strapped state. He asked the crowd gathered – “Is Arunachal a beggar state?” The CM said the state cannot always go begging to the centre for funds and submit itself to its dictates. The state must develop a sound policy to generate sufficient revenue through its rich natural resources, he stressed and called for end to its dependency. He, however, said that any development projects that threatens local culture and environment will not be encouraged but the benign one will be.
The Chief Minister further said that to carry ahead the task of development, its not the responsibility of the Chief Minister alone. The vital role to be played by is the bureaucrats as they have years of experience when compared to newcomer inexperienced legislators, urging them to guide the lawmakers. The Chief Minister also said his office is always open for good suggestions for state’s development and added that people could contact him through social media and other means of communication.
Responding to the memorandums submitted, Khandu promised to sanction a community hall for Hija village. Also he assured to look into demands of Gaon Burah Association and AYA. Minister Pario and MLA Taki also spoke on the occasion.
