Bamang Felix
Home minister Bamang Felix addressing a meeting. Image credit - Northeast Now

Arunachal Pradesh home minister Bamang Felix on Wednesday called upon the nodal officers of Hamara Arunachal Abhiyan (HAA) to dedicate themselves to the cause of making the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) a clean and serene place to live in.

“Dedicate yourselves to the cause for at least one year and once we transform the ICR into a safe, clean and serene place, the other districts would follow suit,” Felix said.

The home minister was addressing a meeting held at the deputy commissioner’s office in Itanagar to discuss activities to be incorporated in HAA as it completes a year on October 2.

Lamenting that Itanagar has been featured in the list of the dirtiest cities in the country, Felix said “it was time that a united effort was needed to remove the capital from the tag.”

As responsible citizens, we must do our share, only then would we be able to see gradual changes if not immediate ones, he said.

Speaking about the COVID19 pandemic, the home minister said: “It has taught all to be self-reliant as it was evident till now that Arunachal is a consuming state and not a producing one.”

He also highlighted the recent nutritional kitchen and cluster farming projects of the state government and how the initiative has inspired people to take up farming which in turn has made them self-reliant.

Felix further urged the officers to explore various activities like massive tree plantation, solar lighting, drainage, security, beautification, etc. to be incorporated in the Hamara Arunachal Abhiyan for the betterment of the ICR.

The ICR consists of Itanagar, the state capital, Naharlagun, Nirjuli and Banderdewa.

He also asked the nodal officers to submit the one lakh tree plantation and beautification plan for 2021 by December 31.

The agenda for the one-year anniversary celebration of HAA during Gandhi Jayanti was also discussed during the meeting.

Deputy commissioner Komkar Dulom presented an overview of the activities carried out by the members of HAA in the ICR and said that the Abhiyan has seen the active participation of citizens from all walks of life.

He suggested that ‘self-reliance’ should also be included in the motto of HAA.

Capital superintendent of police in-charge Jimmy Chiram and the nodal officers of all the 20 wards of ICR attended the meeting.

A brainchild of home minister Felix, the Hamara Arunachal Abhiyan is the state home department’s initiative to involve the citizens, NGOs, community-based organizations, student unions, etc. to improve the law and order in the ICR, besides developing the capital into a clean and peaceful city.

Damien Lepcha is Northeast Now Correspondent in Arunachal Pradesh. He can be reached at: [email protected]