arunachal
Matin Rey Tangu who starred in the movie 'Tubelight' along with superstar Salman Khan awarded gold medal for his meritorious service to Arunachal Pradesh on statehood day. Courtesy: Twitter @PemaKhanduBJP

The Narendra Modi-led Central government has a special focus and consideration for the development of Arunachal Pradesh, Governor Brig B D Mishra (retd) said on Wednesday as the north-eastern border state celebrated its 33rd statehood day.

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“We have achieved a lot in this direction and credit for this goes to every citizen of the state who under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pema Khandu, contributed in assisting the government and administration for development of the state,” he said at a function to mark the occasion.

Chief Minister Khandu, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and other dignitaries were also present. Mishra said both the Central and State Governments have been putting in their best efforts to electrify every village, provide a toilet in every house, a road to every village and gas connection to every kitchen.

Reiterating his mantra for ensuring 100 per cent transparent implementation of developmental projects, the Governor called on every citizen to make sure that all the projects are implemented with honesty and accountability.

He urged the people to come forward to see that every child above six years of age goes to school, called on teachers to impart value based-education and be ready to serve in far-flung schools. He also suggested a rotation-based transfer for teachers of urban and rural areas.

The Governor called upon the parents to motivate the students to be entrepreneurs and job-providers instead of managers and job-seekers.

Paying tribute to the CRPF troopers killed in the Pulwama terror attack, he also expressed his anguish that some of the youth of the state, particularly in the eastern districts, were being lured towards the gun culture and drug culture.

“I appeal to them to join the mainstream of the society for their own well-being,” he said, cautioning the youth against drug abuse, “which is destroying them, their family and the society”.

Noting that this year, the nation will be celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who preached, practised and propagated Swachhata, Mishra urged upon the people to be connected to the Swachhata Mission and strive towards a cleaner, healthier and greener India.

“It will be the best tribute to Gandhi on his 150th Jayanti, he said. The Governor also released the festival souvenir and launched the proceedings of the agricultural conclave. Before declaring the three-day Festival of Arunachal open, he presented the State Awards, Chief Minister’s Excellence Award in Civil Service and Dorjee Khandu Memorial Award to people from different walks of life.

Traditional folk dances of various tribes were the highlights of the pageant. Participants from Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya also presented a cultural programme under ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharata’ initiative which aims to improve the cultural connection across various states of India.