ROING, Sept 1: “In the race to development, if we forget our roots, our culture and our language, we will never be truly developed,” said Chief Minister Pema Khandu attending the annual festival – Solung – of the Adis at Roing in Lower Dibang Valley here this morning.
Lauding the Adis, one of the largest tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, for preserving their rich cultural heritage and celebrating their indigenous festival with traditional rituals in a grand manner every year, Khandu said that the distinct culture, cuisine and dialect are the identity of each tribe of the state that boasts of 26 major tribes and more than 100 sub-tribes.
He reiterated his appeal to practice local dialects in everyday life for its preservation.
“I firmly believe that cultural erosion starts when one member of the community does not learn his or her mother tongue,” he said.
Admitting that learning and speaking mainstream languages like English and Hindi are important in today’s world, Khandu asserted that it should never be at the cost of mother tongue. He urged elders and parents to speak to their young children in their native language so that the younger generation stay connected to it. Likewise, he urged the youth to practice and speak in their mother tongue so that later they can pass it down to the generation coming after them.
“As a Monpa I have to take ownership of my culture, my language. As an Adi you have to do the same. No one from other part of world will come to preserve your culture and language. It is upon us to preserve our respective culture, language and faith through practicing these in our daily life,” Khandu pointed.
He said that the state government has established the department of Indigenous Affairs to oversee and assist the indigenous tribes of the state in their efforts to preserve their culture and language and called upon the CBOs to brainstorm with the department officers and suggest ways and means in this direction.
Speaking on the development front, Khandu hailed Roing for its road communication network. He recounted that when he visited Roing as a minister in 2011, he had to cross rivers on ferry multiple times but today it is a smooth drive of about 5 hours.
“In coming years, Roing in particular and Lower Dibang Valley in general is all set to step into a next level of developmental stage by courtesy the Dibang Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project!” he remarked.
The Chief Minister assured that the 2880 MW project will completely transform the region both in economy and infrastructure while earning revenue for the state exchequer.
He informed that several hydro projects worth about 18000 MW are in various stages of implementation across the state including the Dibang project. Once completed, he said, these will generate a revenue for the state exchequer worth Rs 10000 Cr annually.
“With such revenue that too only from hydropower, will enable the government to invest in more robust development and welfare measures making Arunachal Pradesh truly viksit by 2047,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister laid foundation for several development works in Lower Dibang Valley district, which include construction of 20 Bedded Hostel Building comprising Kitchen, Dining Hall and Warden Room, and 4 Unit Quarters (G+1) at Govt Upper Primary School, Sirang, construction of 20 Bedded Hostel Building including Kitchen, Dining Hall and Warden Room, and 4 Unit Quarters (G+1) at Govt Upper Primary School, Keba, construction of 4 Unit Type Quarters (G+1) at GSS, Paglam, construction of 20 Bedded Hostel Building including Kitchen, Dining Hall and Warden Room, and 4 Unit Quarters (G+1) at Govt Middle School, Kangkong, construction of 120 Bedded Hostel Building at GSS, Paglam, creation of infrastructure for Electrical Sub-Division at Dambuk, improvement of Dambuk Township Road, iimprovement of Dambuk ADC HQ Township Road, improvement of Paglam SDO HQ Township Road and construction of Type-V Quarter for Principal, Govt. Model College, Roing
The Chief Minister visited the under-construction bridge over the Sissiri River on the Bomjir–Paglam road and reviewed the progress with engineers. Once completed, this bridge will provide all-weather connectivity to villages like Bizari, Anpum, Loklung, and Paglam.
He also visited the Dibang Hydroelectric project site and interacted with NHPC officials headed by CMD S K Singh.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Dasanglu Pul, Minister Women & Child Development, Punnyo Apum, MLA Dambuk, Mutchu Mithi, MLA Roing, Oni Panyang, MLA Geku–Mariyang, Bolin Chetia, MLA Sadiya (Assam), BJP State President Kaling Moyong and others
