Itanagar: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Monday unveiled the statue of Saint John Melchior Bosco, popularly known as Don Bosco and inaugurated the new senior secondary building of Don Bosco School at Jollang near here.
Home Minister Bamang Felix, Education Minister Taba Tedir, former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, MLAs Techi Kaso and Tana Hali Tara and former MP Takam Sanjoy were present on the occasion.
Mein also dedicated an auditorium hall to the teachers and students of the school. The entire infrastructure was dedicated to mark the centenary celebration of the arrival of the Salesians of Don Bosco to the Northeast.
Extending his heartfelt congratulations to the Don Bosco family on the completion of 100 glorious years in the region, he said: “We recognise the contribution of the Don Bosco Society in imparting quality education with moral values and providing healthcare to the people of the state in remote and far-flung areas since pre-independence days.”
Mein also thanked the Salesians of Don Bosco for dedicating their entire life and rendering yeoman’s service to the people of the region with a missionary zeal in those difficult days.
Further acknowledging the contribution of the Salesian congregation, he said it is because of their selfless service amongst others like Ramakrishna Mission and Vivekanda Kendra Vidyalaya that the state has produced talented professionals in diverse fields and created a huge pool of manpower in the state.
Mein said the state government will look into whatever support it can provide to the Don Bosco Society in return for their service and for the protection of the school area from further eroding.
The journey of 11 Salesians of the Don Bosco family from Italy, France, Spain and San Marino to the Northeast as missionaries on January 12, 1922, led to the establishment of several institutions in the remotest parts of the region and spread the light of education, especially among the poor and tribal people.
Felix, Tedir, Rt Rev John Thomas, Rev Fr Jose Kuruvachira (Provincial), Father TJ Sebastian (Rector), Fr CC Jose and President of Arunachal Pradesh Christian Association, Taw Tebin also spoke on the occasion.
Also read: Arunachal: No succour yet for Naharlagun market fire victims
