ITANAGAR, 27 Aug: The Arunachal Pradesh unit of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) strongly criticised the youth affairs department for its alleged failure to “promote youth growth and development in the state.”
“Despite promises to support talented youth, the government’s efforts have fallen short, leading to lack of proper incentives and financial support for individuals excelling in various fields,” the NSUI unit said in a release.
It cited the examples of Tengam Celine Koyu and Tana Punya, both of whom have represented Aruna-chal on national platforms like Miss India after winning the Miss Arunachal pageant.
“These talented individuals were supposed to receive government incentives to
help cover their expenses, but the reality has been quite different. The promised incentives are not reaching the deserving youth, forcing them and their families to bear the financial burden themselves,” the students’ union said.
“The problem lies in the government’s dependence on middlemen, such as the Miss Arunachal Organisation and various NGOs, to disburse these funds. This indirect approach has led to corruption and misuse of funds,” it said.
“For instance, although the government allocates funds, such as 10 lakh rupees for those representing Arunachal at Miss India, these funds are often funnelled through NGOs, where up to 30% is deducted. In many cases, the incentives are not even provided to the intended beneficiaries, and funds are misappropriated,” it added.
The NSUI unit expressed apprehension that these issues extend beyond the realm of beauty pageants and affect other talented youths in sports and other fields.
“The lack of transparency and accountability raises serious questions about the government’s capability to directly disburse incentives and financial support to talented youth. The reliance on third-party organisations creates opportunities for corruption and hinders the actual development of youth talent,” it said.
The NSUI demanded that the state government take immediate action to ensure that incentives and financial support are directly disbursed to talented youths, without involving intermediaries.
“The youth of Arunachal Pradesh deserve a transparent and accountable system that genuinely supports their growth and development,” it added.
“The NSUI stands committed to fighting for the rights of the youth in Arunachal Pradesh and will continue to voice against any injustice and corruption that hampers their progress,” the release further stated.
