Arunachal CM announces bold reforms in education, infrastructure

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 2, 2024

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu pledged a transformative overhaul in the state’s education sector over the next three financial years, ensuring access to quality learning, modern infrastructure, and enhanced opportunities for youth.

Speaking at a public meeting in Logum Jini, Aalo, Khandu shared the state government’s vision for prioritizing quality over quantity in education and detailed plans for bolstering infrastructure and revenue generation.

The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of delivering quality education, admitting that the proliferation of schools in the past had negatively impacted education standards. He revealed that more than 600 government schools have been closed over the past nine years, with further closures expected.

“The number of schools does not matter; the quality of education does,” said Khandu.

Preferring quality for quantity, Khandu said that the number of schools do not matter but quality of education does. In fact, he pointed out, the huge number of government schools in the state had deteriorated the quality in education.

He said, “You will be surprised that in last 9 years, we have shut down more than 600 schools. More will be closed in the coming days.”

The government, he said, will focus on Inter Village schools equipping them with all facilities like hostel, teachers and staff and modern teaching methods.

To successfully implement the reforms, some of which, he claimed may be hard or harsh, Khandi sought the support and cooperation of the people.

Highlighting the state’s burgeoning revenue collection, Khandu underlined hydropower as a game-changer for Arunachal Pradesh’s economy. The state holds 50% of India’s total hydropower generation capacity, with projects expected to yield significant revenue in the future.

He termed hydropower as one of the most effective sources of revenue generation as Arunachal Pradesh alone holds 50% of India’s total hydropower generation capacity.

Khandu informed that the central government has agreed to give 26% equity share from each project to the state besides the existing quota of 12% free power.

He said that if the proposed 35000 MW is monetized in terms of revenue gained by the state in the next 10 years, it would be an astounding Rs 10000 crore per year.

“The more revenue we generate, the more we can uplift the living conditions of our people,” he said.

Praising the people of Aalo, particularly those of the 31-Aalo East Assembly constituency, for reposing faith on BJP, Khandu announced sanctioning of the much-needed road connecting Jirdin and Eyi via Bumri in West Siang, a promise he had made before the elections.

He also assured to develop the tourism site along the Yomgo River in Aalo township and sought a proper plan and design.

At Pasighat, the Chief Minister inspected several ongoing Smart City Mission projects, including the construction of a Smart Guest House, Smart Market Upgradation, and a Smart Recreation Centre.

Earlier, Khandu inaugurated the newly constructed Multipurpose Hall and a walkway along the banks of Yomgo River.

On Sunday, the Chief Minister visited Silluk Village, the cleanest village of Arunachal Pradesh in the Mebo Sub-Division of East Siang district. The village has earned the Chief Minister’s Award for Cleanest Village consecutively for three terms.

In a public meeting at Silluk village, the Chief Minister assured to expedite the process on flood protection proposal and equipping the Mebo CHC with doctors and manpower.

At Pasighat, Khandu inspected the under-construction Smart Guest House, the Smart Market Upgradation project andthe Smart Recreation Centre being developed under the Smart City Mission.