TALI, Feb 26: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein emphasized that development initiatives must progress in harmony with the preservation of indigenous culture and traditions.
Joining the Nyishi community in celebrating the 48th Nyokum Yullo, one of their most revered festivals, at Tali on Thursday, the Deputy Chief Minister said development must go hand in hand with cultural preservation.
Extending warm greetings on the occasion, he called upon elders to document traditional knowledge for future generations and urged the people to uphold the spirit of unity and collective responsibility embodied in Nyokum Yullo.
In his address, Mein described Nyokum Yullo as a profound reflection of the Nyishi community’s spiritual bond with nature, collective unity and ancestral faith. He commended the community for preserving traditional rituals, attire and indigenous knowledge systems, and stressed that cultural identity must be safeguarded even as the state advances on the path of modernization.
Highlighting the development trajectory of the Tali-Pipsorang region, Mein noted that agriculture continues to be the backbone of the local economy. Large cardamom remains the principal cash crop, while orange cultivation and horticulture are expanding steadily. He underlined the potential of horticulture to generate sustainable income through improved production, value addition and better market linkages.
Reiterating the government’s focus on border area development, he said special emphasis is being placed on infrastructure creation and livelihood generation in remote and frontier regions. He expressed confidence that targeted investments would encourage reverse migration and enable people to return to their native villages with dignity and economic security.
On connectivity, the Deputy Chief Minister informed that six roads are being implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and four roads under the Vibrant Villages Programme to ensure all-weather connectivity. Projects under the Central Road Fund and Rural Infrastructure Development Fund are also progressing, while the Chief Minister Comprehensive Road Scheme, including the proposed Tali Ring Road, will further boost township development.
He also highlighted ongoing infrastructure initiatives, including construction of a Mini Secretariat, development of indoor and outdoor stadiums, a proposed Tourist Lodge, new school buildings under Shikshit Arunachal, and administrative offices at Pipsorang SDO, Nyorig Circle and Paye Circle.
Mein informed that 100 percent household coverage has been achieved under the Jal Jeevan Mission in the area, ensuring safe drinking water to every home. He added that the Pale Hydel Project is nearing completion and is expected to significantly improve power supply.
The celebration was also joined by several public representatives including Roing MLA and Advisor to the Minister for Home and Education, Mutchu Mithi, Tali MLA and Advisor to Minister Power, Jikke Tako, former MLA Rughu Tado, Kra Daadi ZPC Tagru Kasha, Youth Affairs Director Ramesh Linggi, among others.