CM Pema Khandu Calls for Youth Empowerment, Cultural Preservation and Tourism Development at ANYA Golden Jubilee

Read Time:4 Minute, 24 Second

ITANAGAR, October 15 : Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Wednesday attended the concluding programme of the Golden Jubilee celebration of the All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA) at Indira Gandhi Park, Itanagar, marking 50 years of the organisation, which was established in 1976.

Congratulating ANYA on completing five decades, the Chief Minister acknowledged its contributions to youth development and community welfare. He appreciated the roadmap presented by ANYA President Jamru Ruja, particularly its focus on preserving the Nyishi language, culture and traditions, and assured the State Government’s support. He also welcomed the association’s concern over the proliferation of organisations in Arunachal Pradesh.

Highlighting the responsibility of the Nyishi community as the State’s largest tribal group, spread across seven districts, Khandu said the community must continue to lead by example and contribute to the State’s political, social, cultural and economic development. He paid tribute to senior leaders and social workers who had contributed to the State’s journey from NEFA to Union Territory and ultimately Statehood.

Tourism, cultural preservation and youth participation featured prominently in the Chief Minister’s address. He urged ANYA to identify tourism potential in Nyishi-inhabited areas, prepare a comprehensive roadmap in consultation with NGOs and submit it to the Government for further development.

Citing Tawang’s growing hospitality sector, the Ziro Festival of Music and Anini’s recognition as a promising tourist destination, Khandu said tourism could become a major engine of economic growth. He stressed that infrastructure alone was not enough and called for public participation and the promotion of Atithi Devo Bhava to strengthen hospitality across the State.

On cultural preservation, the Chief Minister cautioned that smartphones, social media and artificial intelligence should remain tools for human progress rather than control people’s lives. He called upon parents, elders and community organisations to encourage analytical thinking among young people and ensure that the Nyishi language, customs and traditions are passed on to future generations.

He also urged ANYA to organise brainstorming sessions with policymakers and elected representatives on youth empowerment. Appreciating the All East Kameng Social Welfare & Cultural Organization (AEKSWCO) for reviewing the performance of district legislators, he described the initiative as a model of accountability for other communities. He also commended its nurses for voluntarily caring for the elderly and acknowledged the release of a book examining financial inclusion and disparities in Arunachal Pradesh.

Referring to the Vibrant Villages Programme, Khandu said Arunachal Pradesh was the largest beneficiary of the initiative, with improved connectivity and development in remote areas beginning to encourage reverse migration.

Emphasising skill development and entrepreneurship, the Chief Minister said the State continued to depend heavily on skilled workers from outside despite major infrastructure projects and hydropower developments of around 19,000 MW at various stages.

Citing an example of local skill development, he said 50 youths trained at a skill centre in Hyderabad completed a project in Pasighat for Rs 10 lakh, compared with an outside quotation of Rs 18 lakh. He encouraged ANYA and the All Nyishi Students’ Union to visit the State’s skill centres and suggest additional trades to improve local employment opportunities.

Of the 10 skill centres functioning in the State, three are located in Nyishi areas, including Sagalee and Yupia, while an Industrial Training Institute at Koloriang is nearing completion.

Khandu also appealed to Nyishi entrepreneurs to invest in the capital region, observing that Itanagar still lacks a five-star hotel despite hosting Union ministers, senior officials and foreign dignitaries.

In a major announcement, the Chief Minister said the State Government would begin sponsoring coaching for young aspirants seeking to join the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces as officers. Selected candidates, after undergoing skill training with the Army, would be sent to reputed coaching centres in Delhi or Pune, with all fees borne by the Government. He said discussions had been held with the Army’s Three Corps and Four Corps, adding that Nyishi youth remained under-represented in the officer cadre relative to their population.

Khandu further announced that a Cell for the Arunachal Creative Economy would be established in the Chief Minister’s Office to help young creative talent convert their skills into sustainable livelihoods. He also said the Institute for Transforming Arunachal (ITA), modelled on NITI Aayog, would soon be established with a chief executive officer and subject specialists to advise the Government on policy matters.

Highlighting educational opportunities, he said the Arunachal Academic Excellence initiative provides scholarship support to students admitted to universities ranked among the top 150 in the QS World University Rankings, with more students, including from the Nyishi community, benefiting from the programme.

Concluding his address, the Chief Minister called upon young people to become job creators rather than job seekers, noting that government employment opportunities were limited. He said the Arunachal Pradesh Entrepreneurship Development Programme, launched in 2021, had helped establish more than 150 startups, while the annual intake had been doubled to 100.

He also encouraged entrepreneurs to register under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) framework to access institutional finance and other opportunities for business growth.

The Chief Minister urged ANYA and the wider Nyishi community to work collectively with the Government towards preserving cultural identity, empowering youth, promoting tourism and building a self-reliant Arunachal Pradesh.