Namsai: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Thursday said that Arunachal Pradesh is witnessing unprecedented growth and progress under the double-engine government led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu in the state and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre.
“Arunachal’s share of capital expenditure has remained consistently above the national average and it is the highest in the north-east region. This shows that we are investing more on capital infrastructure which in other words indicates that more development is taking place in the state,” Mein said.
The DCM, who was addressing the Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations at the multipurpose cultural hall here, said Arunachal is progressing in harmony with nature and culture following which it has become one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the country.
“The state government is working tirelessly and consistently towards the development of health, education, skill development, women empowerment and self-help groups. This in turn has realized Prime Minister Modi’s belief that northeastern India will be the engine of India’s development,” Mein said.
The DCM further said that Arunachal’s budget this year is full of reforms and the government has also crossed the Rs 25,000 crore mark for the first time in terms of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).
Our GSDP for 2022-23 has been taken as conservative figure of Rs.29732 crore but we are confident that we will reach the Rs 30,000 crore mark in the coming years, he said.
Mein also said that the share of central taxes as per Union Budget 2021-22 was estimated at Rs. 11,693.94 crore and the same was finally enhanced to Rs. 14,644.00 crore during 2021-22 which is 25% more than the Budget Estimate.
Speaking on prudent financial management, the DCM said Arunachal, did not even once default on its committed liabilities such as loan repayments, contributions to the sinking fund, regular payment of salaries, etc. despite the overall economic downturn and huge reduction in available resources following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Arunachal government has instead started giving advance against Centrally Sponsored Schemes and committed liabilities like salary and wages and an advance of Rs. 485 crore was released during the last financial year to ensure timely disbursement of the same, he informed.
The DCM said the year 2022-23 has been declared as the ‘year of e-Governance’ by the state government and 22 new projects are to be taken up under the same.
“This will be a major step towards achieving good governance,” he said.
Mein said to address the unemployment problem in the state, the Arunachal Pradesh Innovation and Investment Promotion Park has been established and it is a major platform where young entrepreneurs will be incubated and made job givers rather than job seekers.
The Arunachal Pradesh start-up policy is also in the pipeline which will support young enterprising minds, he said.
For the education sector, Mein informed that Golden Jubilee Model School Programme will be implemented in a convergence model through which 50 schools with an investment of Rs 500 crore will be developed in the state.
With regards to preservation of culture and indigenous faith, the DCM said the state government has allocated a sum of Rs 31 crore in this year’s budget for various schemes related to it.
Mein said Arunachal Pradesh has reached a historical and important milestone with the adoption of ‘Pakke Declaration’ aimed at the state’s climate-resistant development.
“The government will do its best to protect people from the challenges of climate change and their impact on biodiversity,” he said.
The Pakke Declaration is an initiative of the Arunachal government to fight climate change and achieve the target of net zero carbon emissions by the year 2047.
To encourage the youth and give them a proper platform to nurture their talents, Mein said the government will be introducing the ‘Achievers Award’ through which the achievers in music, arts, sports and literature will be feted.
Mein also thanked the BJP karyakartas for their “hard work and untiring efforts to strengthen the party and for their contribution towards nation building.”
He appealed to the karyakartas to work dedicatedly towards sustaining the state’s developmental journey and to reach out to people at grassroots level and highlight the achievements of the government.
Earlier while recalling Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s contribution towards the nation, the DCM said the polymath remains a symbol of equality and foreperson of human rights.
“Dr Ambedkar’s works and ideas continue to influence the masses even to this date,” Mein said.
Namsai MLA Chau Zingnu Namchoom also spoke on the occasion.
Mein on the day also took part in the Sangken celebrations at the Kongmukham (Golden Pagoda) in Tengapani while Namchoom participated in the festival at the Pariyatti Sasana Buddha Vihara.
The Sangken festival is celebrated from April 14 to 16 in Arunachal as the traditional New Year’s Day by the Theravada Buddhist communities.
