| Staff REPORTER |
Itanagar, Mar 9: Several key issues relating to police recruitment, welfare of the Puroik community, road infrastructure and tourism development were discussed in the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Monday during the Question Hour.
Home Minister Mama Natung informed the House that the declaration of final results of the police recruitment process for 35 posts under compassionate grounds has been kept in abeyance following directions from the Gauhati High Court.
Responding to a supplementary raised by Laisam Simai, the Home Minister said the Police Department has already conducted the recruitment examination but the declaration of the final results was withheld in compliance with the directions issued by the Itanagar Permanent Bench of the Gauhati High Court.
Stating that five per cent quota is being given for compassionate appointments in the Police Department, he said, as per the August 2, 2022 Office Memorandum (OM) issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), candidates applying under the scheme must clear the physical efficiency test (PET), physical standard test (PST) and written examination.
He said that unlike the recruitment process conducted in 2019 as per the 2001 OM when several candidates were appointed, this time around the aspirants, as per the latest MHA guidelines, had to appear PET, PST and written test wherein 112 out of 442 eligible candidates qualified. However, some disgruntled candidates moved the high court challenging the latest initiative.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pema Khandu assured the House that the government is according top priority in improving the Khonsa township roads.
Replying to a supplementary from Wangling Lowangdong, the Chief Minister informed that arterial roads in townships and villages across the state are being developed under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive State Rural Development Programme (CMCSRDP).
Addressing concerns raised by Lowangdong regarding road conditions in Khonsa, Khandu said the roads are generally in good condition except for a few stretches that were damaged by flash floods in October 2024. He informed that the damaged portions have been restored and are being periodically maintained by the Public Works Department. The upgradation of several arterial roads in Khonsa has also been taken up under CMCSRDP-II with a sanctioned amount of Rs 28.04 crore.
Social Justice, Empowerment and Tribal Affairs Minister Kento Jini informed the Assembly that the state government has taken several initiatives to uplift the Puroik community and integrate them into the mainstream through welfare schemes, vocational training and educational support.
Replying to a question raised by member Hayeng Mangfi, Jini said the government constituted the Autonomous Puroik Welfare Board in 2017 under the SJETA department to study the socio-economic conditions of the community and ensure effective implementation of welfare schemes.
He said initiatives include vocational training programmes, financial assistance for self-employment, construction of hostels for Puroik students and opportunities for professional education such as nursing courses, aimed at improving education and livelihood opportunities.
Responding to a supplementary on inclusion of the Puroik community in the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) list, Jini assured that the state government would take up the matter with the central government provided any such proposal came from the community.
Tourism Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona while responding to a supplementary from Hamjong Tangha, who sought to know reasons for not extending the existing tourist circuit to administrative circles via Namtok, Yatdam, Changlang, Kantang and Khimyong circles, sated that tourism planning in border areas like Changlang must follow an additional layer of security protocol.
“Since Arunachal Pradesh is a border state, extension of tourist circuits to administrative circles in bordering areas requires mandatory clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs,” Sona said.
The moment the requisite approval is received, these circles will be duly included in the tourism circuit framework, ensuring both visitor access and national security are safeguarded, the minister assured.