Namsai: Arunachal Pradesh deputy chief minister Chowna Mein on Tuesday dedicated an agriculture market shed-cum-rural haat and a children park to the people of Kongmukham village in Tengapani near here.
Mein also inaugurated Noi Kham, a local restaurant and launched two products — Khamti Lahi Rice and turmeric powder — of NOSAAP, a farmer producer company, in the presence of MLAs Zingnu Namchoom and Jummum Ete Deori and other dignitaries.
Addressing the occasion, Mein said that the rural haat will help transform the lives of the rural populace, especially the SHGs, artisans, womenfolk and unemployed youths as it will provide a platform and opportunity to sell their produce and art. Latest: Arunachal’s Namsai top in aspirational district rankings of Niti Aayog
“Tourism businesses which are in harmony with nature and progressive entrepreneurs should be encouraged. The untapped areas in the district need to be identified to tap its full potential”, Mein said.
The DCM said with the improvement of road connectivity in eastern Arunachal, especially in the Namsai, Lohit and Lower Dibang Valley districts, the region has witnessed tremendous increase in tourist arrivals.
He informed that Namsai district alone has recorded increased footfall of tourists.
Mein further called upon all to do their part in developing Namsai as a model and cleanest district of the state and appealed to all to shun single-use plastic.
Interacting with the self help groups (SHGs), Mein urged them to sell their indigenous products and avoid selling forest produce in large scales at the market shed.
Expressing serious concern over drug abuse in the district, especially among the youths, Mein while terming it as a raging epidemic called upon the NGOs, community based and women organizations and the youths to come forward and wage a war against the same.
The DCM also released a book, titled ‘A glimpse into Orchids of Namsai District of Arunachal Pradesh’ authored by Botanical Survey of India scientist Dr Krishna Chowlu.
The Tengapani rural haat-cum-agriculture shed will be run by NOSAAP in collaboration with the SHGs under the Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission.
NOSAAP will mainly focus on the marketing strategy such as advertisement, promotion, market linkages, etc. while ArSRLM will help select and train the progressive SHGs, women entrepreneurs for selling the agricultural products as well as handlooms and handicrafts.
The vendors will be given hawker licenses and other credit linkages from the bank to facilitate the activities.
Space museum plan in Namsai explored:
Deputy Chief Minister Mein on Tuesday convened a meeting with officials of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to discuss the possibilities of establishing a science centre and space museum in Namsai.
The meeting was attended by N Sudheer Kumar, director, Capacity Building Programme Office (CBPO), ISRO HQ, Namsai legislator Chau Zingnu Namchoom, deputy commissioner R K Sharma and divisional forest officer Tabang Jamoh, among others.
The meeting saw the participants discuss and explore various options to establish the science centre based on the funding for infrastructure, operation of the centre and establishing the exhibits and models.
Following detailed deliberations it was decided that a detailed project report (DPR) would be prepared by the Arunachal government for the science centre at Namsai and the space gallery would be a part of the same.
The DPR would be prepared through a consultant and submitted to the Ministry of Culture for funds.
It was also decided that the ISRO would support the centre in establishing the exhibits and models in the space gallery.
Mein further suggested the state science and technology director to take the lead in preparing the DPR in consultation with Kumar and coordinate the same with the ministry of tourism and ISRO.
The DCM expressed his gratitude to ISRO chairman S Somnath for initiating the process of setting up the space museum and sending a team from ISRO to Namsai.
State science and technology director Chau Dhanya Mungyak Mungyak informed that a proposal seeking the establishment of six science centers in Arunachal Pradesh has already been submitted to the Ministry of Culture.
