Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu received the ‘Most Improved Small State’ award in terms of Infrastructure, Law and Order and Education.
The award is being instituted by country’s leading media organization India Today at its 18th edition of the ‘State of the States Conclave’ in New Delhi.
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Khandu received the award from union minister for environment, forest and climate change, Prakash Javadekar.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Khandu said being a hilly state, Arunachal Pradesh has its own unique challenges and opportunities.
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He said for the State to develop, connectivity is being given highest priority.
Khandu also said under PMGSY, good quality road connectivity is reaching interior villages.
Under Trans Arunachal Pradesh highway stretching over 1800 kms, road connectivity works have been completed by 80 per cent, he asserted.
Khandu also said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, rail and air connectivity to interior pockets in Arunachal Pradesh are becoming reality.
He said state capital Itanagar is already connected with railways and survey works are going on for rail connectivity in all foothills area and even in high altitude areas like Tawang.
He said rail connectivity to Tawang will become a pride for the country.
The chief minister also said Arunachal Pradesh is focusing fully on improving revenue generation.
He said the State has increased its revenue from Rs 900 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 2100 crore in 2018-19.
Khandu said the objective is to increasingly become independent of Centre’s funding for development of the State.
The chief minister thanked the India Today group for bringing the concept of the ‘States of the States’ survey that has raised the sense of competitiveness among all states.
He said such survey has benefitted the entire nation bringing in marked improvement in different sectors of development.
Also present on the occasion were state health hinister Alo Libang, Lok Sabha MP Tapir Gao, MLA Tsering Tashi and several other dignitaries from the State.