Guwahati: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Wednesday inaugurated the Donyi Polo Multipurpose Hall at the Galo Heritage Centre in Tarajuli, near Naharlagun, commending the Galo community for donating its traditional Mopin ground for the state’s first medical college and raising funds to establish a new cultural centre.

The Mopin ground in Naharlagun had been used by the community since 1976 before it was handed over for the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS). Following the transfer, the community formed a committee and acquired approximately 11,217 square metres of land at Tarajuli through contributions from its members.

Clan organisations subsequently helped develop the site by constructing boundary walls and traditional gates, while more than 430 individuals contributed financially towards the project.

The multipurpose hall was sanctioned under the Centre’s Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment scheme following an assurance given by Khandu in 2022. The project was completed in approximately one year, considerably faster than the usual two to three years required for similar works.

The inauguration programme was organised by the Naharlagun Mopin Management and Promotion Committee, which manages the Heritage Centre, in coordination with the Galo Welfare Society and various clan-based organisations.

Khandu said the hall, named after Donyi Polo, the indigenous faith associated with the Sun and the Moon, would become the permanent venue for Mopin celebrations and support efforts to preserve Galo cultural traditions. It will also provide a platform for younger generations to learn traditional songs, dances and crafts from community elders.

Chief Minister announces additional infrastructure support

During the programme, Khandu announced that approval for the drainage system required at the Heritage Centre would be granted within the year. He also said a shed would be constructed at the Itanagar Mopin and Solung ground for use by both the Galo and Adi communities.

He assured the gathering that demands relating to a Galo Secretariat and additional heritage infrastructure would be pursued.

Responding to a memorandum of demands submitted during the event, the Chief Minister said major road projects required time and reiterated that the Centre’s support for a proposed two-lane road between Ruksin and Kimin was conditional on communities providing land free of cost along the surveyed alignment.

According to Khandu, the project could proceed once the concerned communities submitted their written consent for the land requirement.

Progress reported on boundary dispute

On the long-standing Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary dispute, Khandu said differences concerning 123 villages had been largely resolved under the leadership of the Prime Minister.

He added that joint field visits by regional committees had helped settle 31 of the 32 contested areas in Papum Pare district. Efforts were also continuing to address other pending issues, including the Chakma question.

CM calls for vocational skills and entrepreneurship

Emphasising the importance of skill development, Khandu urged people to respect all forms of work and encouraged greater participation in vocational training, particularly in construction, electrical work and plumbing.

He said strengthening local skills would reduce the state’s dependence on skilled workers from outside Arunachal Pradesh.

Citing an example, the Chief Minister referred to 50 youths trained at the National Skill Centre in Hyderabad who later completed a project in Pasighat for Rs 10 lakh, compared with an Rs 18 lakh quotation received from an external team.

Khandu said government employment alone could not provide jobs for everyone and encouraged young people to explore entrepreneurship through the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector and the Arunachal Pradesh Entrepreneurship Development Program. The programme’s capacity has been doubled, with 100 entrepreneurs included in its latest cohort.

Under the Arunachal Academic Excellence initiative, the state government also provides scholarship support to students admitted to universities ranked among the world’s top 150 in the QS rankings.

Women-led development and education initiatives highlighted

Highlighting the government’s development programmes, Khandu said more than 1.5 lakh women had been organised into over 16,000 self-help groups across the state. Nearly 46 per cent of startups in Arunachal Pradesh, he added, were led by women.

He also said more than Rs 3,000 crore had been invested under Phase I of Mission Shikshit Arunachal, with another Rs 1,500 crore approved for Phase II. Government school enrolment had increased by more than 13 per cent, according to the Chief Minister.

The Vibrant Villages Programme covers 455 border villages under its first phase and another 122 villages under Phase II.

Khandu said these initiatives reflected the government’s guiding principles of Vikas, Sewa and Virasat, combining development, public service and cultural preservation.

He cited support for indigenous Gurukul schools, the recognition of 20 Arunachal products with Geographical Indication (GI) tags and efforts to strengthen legal protection for indigenous faiths.

High-powered committees have also been constituted to examine safeguards for Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) communities, the Inner Line Permit (ILP) framework and illegal infiltration. Khandu said these matters would be addressed through dialogue and consensus.

Preserving indigenous identity amid technological change

Warning that Arunachal Pradesh’s tribal communities represent relatively small populations in the national context, Khandu stressed the importance of protecting indigenous languages, customs and traditions.

He said government policies could support preservation efforts, but communities themselves had a responsibility to safeguard their heritage and pass it on to future generations.

Addressing the growing influence of artificial intelligence and machine learning, the Chief Minister urged people to use technology as a tool rather than become dependent on it. He also called for preparing young people for changes in employment while ensuring that technological progress did not come at the cost of cultural identity.

With Arunachal Pradesh set to mark 40 years of statehood on February 20, 2027, Khandu encouraged citizens to reflect on the state’s development journey and work towards its long-term aspirations for 2047.

He urged younger generations to remain connected to their cultural roots while adapting to changing social, economic and technological realities.