NAMSAI, Feb 13: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein while attending the 34th Shapawng Yawng Manau Poi festival of the Singpho community here on Tuesday said the state government will support the promotion, protection and preservation of the rich cultural heritage of various tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.
Addressing a massive gathering in the festival ground, Mein assured the Singpho community that he would offer all possible support to them in preservation of their ethnic identity and culture.
Saying that the Tai-Singpho people have a rich history, he urged them to maintain the age-old relations.
He called upon the youths to stay away from drugs, and appealed to mothers and sisters to win back sons and brothers who have strayed away from the mainstream.
“If our brothers and sons continue to embrace drug addiction, we will be losing our future generations,” he said, and exhorted everyone to help eradicate the drug menace from eastern Arunachal.
Urging the people to stop poppy cultivation, he said the state government will provide them with alternative sources of livelihood in the form of alternative crops.
Responding to a memorandum submitted by the celebration committee, Mein assured to look into their demands in phases, and assured to provide fund for electricity, water supply and infrastructure development at the festival ground in the coming financial year.
Planning Parliamentary Secretary Chau Zingnu Namchoom urged all the communities of Namsai district to work together to take the district forward in the path of development.
He lauded the people of Pheong circle for donating land free of cost for establishing a government science college in Namsai district. He also called upon the people to abstain from drug addiction.
Zignu further informed that the chief minister has also taken up the issue of allotting a time slot for broadcasting news bulletin in the Singpho dialect on All India Radio.
Sengyut Maio read out the legend of Shapawng Yawng Manau Poi.
Various cultural troupes from Namsai, Changlang and Myanmar participated in the dance festival.
Mein also released the festival souvenir, ‘Shapawng Yawng India’, and a video album titled ‘Sumtsaw Salum’.
Among others, former minister CC Singpho, Namsai ZPC Kyasing Munglang, HoDs, and panchayat members were present on the occasion. (PRO)
