ITANAGAR, 28 Jul: Taking forward the Government of India’s efforts to strengthen channels of communication and foster direct engagement with the regional media, the Press Information Bureau (PIB), under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, organised ‘Vartalap 2026’ here on Monday.
The special media outreach programme was organised around the overarching theme, ’12 Years of the Union Government: From Empowerment to Prosperity – A Step towards the Future’. The event aimed to highlight key developmental milestones achieved over the past decade while actively promoting the ‘Gems of India’ challenge- a structured national initiative launched to identify, nurture, and promote grassroots digital creators from every corner of the country.
The programme was attended by key administrative and academic dignitaries, including PIB Itanagar Joint Director Utsav Parmar, DIPR Director Gijum Tali, and RGU Commerce Department Professor Sanjeev Kumar Jena, among others.
Addressing the gathering, Parmar articulated the vision behind the launch of the ‘Gems of India’ initiative. He called it a vital stepping stone towards showcasing Arunachal Pradesh’ rich cultural heritage, traditions, and historical values to the rest of the nation through the dynamic perspective of its youth.
“The ‘Gems of India’ competition will not only offer our young creators a national platform to demonstrate their storytelling talent; it will also act as a vibrant window for the entire country to discover the beauty and spirit of Arunachal Pradesh,” said Parmar, encouraging the local youths to participate enthusiastically.
He also highlighted the positive growth in the education, health and connectivity sectors of the state in the last 12 years.
Speaking on the transformative journey of the state, Tali in his address emphasised the visible shift in regional development over the last 12 years under central initiatives. He noted that rapid expansions in infrastructure, along with enhanced air and road connectivity, have fundamentally changed the socioeconomic dynamics of Arunachal.
Tali said that initiatives like ‘Gems of India’ align seamlessly with these structural improvements, serving as a right step towards empowering local youths by leveraging effective visual communication and digital tools.
Jena drew attention to the substantial growth recorded across the infrastructure, healthcare, and digital sectors nationwide. He stressed that, while physical and technological growth remain essential, special emphasis must be placed on building a sustainable economic environment -particularly in frontier states like Arunachal – to ensure long-term resilience and inclusive prosperity.
The vartalap outreach series serves as an interactive bridge built by the Press Information Bureau to enhance dialogue between government communicators, academic experts, and regional media personnel, ensuring accurate dissemination of developmental policies to grassroots communities. (DIPR)
