Itanagar, Sep 26 “Education is our shared responsibility,” Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said on Saturday and resolved to work with the All Nyishi Students’ Union to improve schools and other educational institutions in the state.
The students’ body called off its 48-hour bandh from September 28 following the chief minister’s assurance in a meeting that was attended by representatives of the union, legislators from the Nyishi community and members of the Nyishi Elite Society.
Khandu assured the union that infrastructure in identified government schools would be upgraded, the long-pending government engineering college in Toru would be revived, a BEd course would be introduced at Neelam Taram Yachuli Government College and the demand for a special-needs school in Pakke-Kessang would be considered.
“Education is our shared responsibility, and we resolve to work together to give our children better schools and better opportunities,” the chief minister said after the meeting at his office here.
The meeting was convened by Khandu against the backdrop of All Nyishi Students’ Union’s (ANSU’s) 12-hour bandh in the Itanagar Capital Region on September 24 and its subsequent announcement of a 48-hour shutdown from September 28 across seven Nyishi-inhabited districts if its demands were not addressed.
The union had raised concerns over education infrastructure, including 56 identified government schools, the Toru engineering college and a special-needs school in Pakke-Kessang.
According to ANSU, Khandu assured the delegation that the Government Engineering College at Toru, which has remained non-functional for nearly a decade, would become operational from the 2027-28 academic session.
Necessary posts would be created before its reopening, while issues related to water supply, electricity and other infrastructure would be addressed by the departments concerned, the union told reporters after the meeting.
On the demand for a special-needs school in Pakke-Kessang, the government cited financial constraints but assured that the proposal would be considered if additional funds became available in the next financial allocation.
The government also informed the delegation that a B Ed course would soon be introduced at Neelam Taram Yachuli Government College in Keyi Panyor district.
On infrastructure deficiencies in 56 government schools identified by ANSU in Nyishi-inhabited areas, the union said 28 schools have been included in the government’s plans for upgradation, and the rest would be taken up in the next financial year.
ANSU also alleged misuse of Rs 500 crore under the Education Department’s Mission Shikshit programme. It said the chief minister assured them that the matter would be taken up with the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
In a social media post later, Khandu appreciated ANSU for highlighting the on-ground situation to the government. “Thank you for raising these issues and for your constructive engagement,” he said.
(PTI News)
