YINGKIONG, Sep 2: Chief Secretary Satya Gopal, who is on a three-day tour of Upper Siang district, attended the Solung festival celebration here on Saturday.
The CS greeted the people of Yingkiong on behalf of the state government, and on behalf of Chief Minister Pema Khandu on the occasion of Solung.
Highlighting the programmes and policies of the state government, he informed that the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences has started functioning with modern medical equipment. “Cancer patient are being given chemotherapy free of cost in the institute,” he said.
He informed that the Chief Minister Arogya Arunachal Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Rastriya Suraksha Mission have been launched and would provide beneficiaries with upto Rs 5 lakhs secondary and tertiary health services in the best hospitals.
“A sum of Rs 4 crore for infrastructure development of senior secondary school, Yingkiong has been approved by the government. Out of the sanctioned amount, Rs 1.5 crore would be released this year. A polytechnic college would be established in Yingkiong very soon,” Gopal said.
Earlier, the CS visited awareness camps on health, Aadhar enrolment, Ujjawala scheme, legal literary, etc, conducted by various departments and agencies on the occasion of Solung festival. He also distributed gas stove sets, PRCs and land possession certificates on the spot to the beneficiaries.
Later, the CS visited Gobuk village, where he inspected the kiwi garden.
Earlier, on 31 August, Gopal visited the district hospital here and interacted with the staffers. He also inspected the under-construction 50-bedded new building of the hospital. The CS also visited the GHSS, the Gandhi bridge, and the Nubo bridge, and took stock of the water level of the Siang river.
Gopal was accompanied by Health & Family Welfare Minister Alo Libang and high-level government officers during his visit.
On Sunday, Gopal visited Jengging, and attended the Solung celebration there.
He assured the people that the proposal for establishment of a Kendra Vidalaya at Jengging would be taken up with the Centre for consideration.
Informing that all necessary infrastructure for the Jengging EAC headquarters would be constructed very soon, the CS said, “Any form of corruption will not be tolerated as corruption-free and transparent governance is the main objective of this government.”
Highlighting various achievements of the government in Upper Siang, such as completion of the Gandhi bridge, the Nubo bridge and the Kodak bridge, starting of the VKV in Yingkiong and the Kendra Vidalaya in Tuting, the CS said the CM’s Samast Siksha Yojana and Adhunik Siksha Yojana have been taken up to boost the education sector.
In Aalo, Solung was celebrated at Gumin Kiin on Saturday.
Attending the celebration, ex-minister Kento Ete and advocate Kenbom Bagra said festivals provide a platform to build mutual trust and better understanding among the different tribes. Such celebration should not be confined to a particular location but should spread to the nook and corner of the rural areas, they said.
Celebration committee president Dr K Jopir and secretary Taja Gamoh outlined the significance and mythological aspects of the festival.
Cultural competitions were the other highlights of the three-day celebration which started on 30 August.
Attending the Solung celebration in Pangin in Siang district on Saturday, Nyishi Elite Society (NES) president Bengia Tolum greeted the Adi community and prayed to goddess Kine-Nane for peace, prosperity and good harvest.
He urged the Adi community to preserve and protect their identity by maintaining their traditions and culture.
“The onus lies on the younger generation for preservation and protection of our own identities,” he added.
Tolum appealed to the younger generation to avoid easy means of earning, like illegal compensation, but earn their living through hard work.
Citing the success story of the Ranganadi and the Pare hydroelectric projects, which are contributing 12% free power to the state, he urged the people to encourage construction of run-off type power projects to earn more revenue for the state.
Emphasizing the need for systematic celebration Solung festival, young entrepreneur Obang Gao in his address said “commercialization of celebration should be discouraged by all,” and reiterated the need of maintaining the traditional art and culture.
Celebration committee president Tanung Jamoh and general secretary Onil Taki also spoke.
The festival was attended by, among others, NES GS Heri Maring, NES secretary (protocol) Lokam Kani, NES information & publicity secretary Nabam Takar, NES health & sanitation secretary Dr Dukhum Raina, and ANSU information & publicity secretary Biki Taying, an NES release stated. (With inputs from DIPROs)
