Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, 26 Sep: The All Nyishi Students' Union (ANSU) on Saturday called off its proposed 48-hour bandh scheduled for September 28 after the Arunachal Pradesh government agreed to act on a series of education-related demands, including revival of the Toru Engineering College, infrastructure development of 56 government schools, and an enquiry into the utilisation of Rs 500 crore under Mission Shikshit Arunachal.
The decision followed a coordination meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pema Khandu at the CMO in Itanagar on Friday. The education minister, home minister, health minister, legislators from the Nyishi community, representatives of the Nyishi Elite Society (NES), ANSU president Ashok Doka and other union representatives attended the meeting.
According to the official minutes, the government decided to provide financial support and undertake infrastructure development in all 56 government schools identified by the ANSU in Nyishi-inhabited areas under Mission Shikshit Arunachal.
The Education Department will submit proposals after due diligence to the Planning and Investment Department.
On the long-pending Toru Engineering College, the government directed the Education Department to initiate recruitment for 34 teaching and non-teaching posts and pursue approval from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), New Delhi.
Proposals will also be prepared for water supply and electrification of the institution, with the government deciding to make all efforts to operationalise the college by the 2027-28 academic session.
On the ANSU's demand for a government BEd college in Keyi Panyor district, the government said introduction of a BEd programme at Neelam Taram Government College, Yachuli, had already been notified on 20 August. The Education Department has been directed to initiate creation of posts for the programme on priority.
The government also agreed in principle to the ANSU's demand for a government school for children with special needs (CwSN) in Pakke-Kessang district. However, the proposal will be considered after assessing funding for the already-approved CwSN school in Siji in Lower Siang district.
Significantly, the CMO decided to send a note to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to initiate enquiries into concerns raised by the ANSU over the utilisation of Rs 500 crore of Mission Shikshit Arunachal funds last year.
The Education Department was also directed to finalise the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Mission Shikshit and place them before the state Cabinet at its next meeting. The programme's three-year implementation plan will be prepared and finalised only after the government approves the SOPs.
Following the decisions, the ANSU announced withdrawal of its proposed bandh, saying there is no need to proceed with the agitation at this stage. The union, however, said it would monitor implementation of the commitments.
Khandu later said education is a "shared responsibility" and appreciated the ANSU for documenting problems at the grassroots and bringing them before the government.
"It was a meaningful discussion, and we concluded with a shared resolve to work together to strengthen education across Arunachal Pradesh," the chief minister said in a social media post.
