By Major General Suresh Chandra Mohanty, AVSM

Recent Developments
Having been stationed at Itanagar over the last nearly 20 months and travelled extensively to far flung areas both in the South along the Indo-Myanmar Border and in the North along the LAC, I am a personal witness to the unprecedented development that has taken place. The infrastructure development in hitherto unconnected areas in terms of roads, bridges, foot suspension bridges, helipads, resuscitation of advance landing grounds is rather unparalled. Besides the airport at Hollongi (Donyi-Polo Airport) which is scheduled to be inaugurated on 15th August 2022, fixed wing air services to Pasighat and Tezu have been energised. Helicopter services to multiple district headquarters and tourist destinations including Menchukha, Anini, Tawang, Hawai, Roing and Yinkionghave been made more frequent and robust under the regional connectivity scheme. The proposed rail extension to Tawang, Pasighat-Parsuramkund and Aalo will further enhance trade and tourism. 
There have been discernible improvements in the fields of education and health care. The State has an enviable literacy rate of 82.93 percent against a national average of 77 percent. The no of deaths due to Covid is one of the lowest even amongst the small category states in terms of population. The personal and extensive involvement of elected representatives including Ministers, the executive and top-level bureaucracy has only provided further fillip to the pace of infrastructure development in the region. State ministers have not shied away from taking long and arduous journey to reach out to the population in remote locations. Over the last several months there has been a deluge of central ministers, bureaucrats, doyens of private and public sector enterprises, educationists, legislatures and sports enthusiasts visiting the state. Multiple levels of oversight, streamlining and accountability have enforced scrupulous adherence to mandated timelines for completion of projects given the unpredictable weather conditions and reduction of pilferages. I have been a personal witness and participant in multiple video conferences, site visits and coordination meetings to resolve inter-ministerial bottlenecks, supply chain disruptions and construction delays.
Border area development under the Vibrant Villages Programme has been a focus area with Rs. 249.12cr being allotted for the purpose in 2021 – 22, while the state Govt has prepared a comprehensive plan for development of infrastructure in the border areas at Rs. 4000 crores. Three clusters of border area villages, one each in the Eastern, Central and Western Sector have been identified to be developed as model villages with housing, connectivity, communication, healthcare, education and livelihood being the areas of impetus with an initial outlay of Rs. 30 crores. The government has embarked on a decisive plan to prevent migration from the border villages through “Indo China Border Development Legislators of Arunachal Pradesh Forum” aimed at devising plans and strategies to develop backward areas along the border. From one project Vartak of Border Roads located at Tezpur, the state is now serviced by four projects from the western most district of Tawang to southernmost tip of Longding. The environmental and forest clearances have been simplified by legislative procedures in keeping with infrastructure development plans. During the visit of home minister projects worth Rs 1180 crores were announced.
Ethnic Cohesion
Despite being populated by over 26 major tribes and over 100 sub tribes and strong ethnic affiliations, there is a pan Arunachal identity and communities live harmoniously with each other through amicable consultative and cooperative mechanisms and have adopted democratic means to air their grievances. The recruitment into government jobs has been streamlined through the mechanism of Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission and Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission thereby addressing favoritism, dissent and enforcing transparency and accountability. It has also resulted in merit-based selection for various government jobs. The crime rate is one of the lowest in India as per the National Crime Records Bureau. Arunachalis are fiercely patriotic and one unique characteristic of the state that distinguishes it from the other North Eastern states is the widely spoken Hindi language that not only makes it business and tourist friendly but also permits its seamless integration with the rest of the country. 
There has been a hugely successful air gun surrender campaign to preserve ecology and environment that has resulted in surrender of nearly 2200 guns and one finds a discernible increase in the number and variety of birds even in a semi urban city like Itanagar. The campaign against drugs has been sustained and vigorous consequent to explicit instructions from the political hierarchy and the State Police have been hugely successful in reducing the menace.
Tourism
Having visited a number of European countries, I dare say that Arunachal Pradesh boasts of huge potential for tourism both from India and abroad (Dekho Apna Desh and Dekho Apna Pradesh). The pristine beauty of rivers meandering through multiple gorges, breathtaking waterfalls of varied shapes, dimensions and intensities, evergreen forests with flora and fauna is simply unmatched. Each river valley starting from Kameng to Subansiri, Siyom, Siang, Dibang and Lohit are characteristically different in the soil conditions, flora fauna and its distinctive tribal populace who preserve their unique customs and traditions. Many of the valleys are potential sites for adventure sports like bungee jumping, para gliding, zip lining, white water rafting, trekking, rock climbing and angling. 
Arunachal Pradesh is a rare paradise on earth in North East India. Our countrymen must endeavourto discover its pristine beauty, breathtaking landscape, unadulterated environment and acquaint themselves with its strategic importance.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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