PM committed to NE development: Chavan

Itanagar, Feb 27 (UNI) Minister of State and AICC general secretary Prithiviraj Chavan has said the over Rs 10,000 crore package announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for Arunachal Pradesh is aimed at emotional integration of the state with the mainland.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion of Nyokum Yullo, the colourful festival of the Nyishi tribe at Nirjuli yesterday, Mr Chavan urged the people of the state to utilise the Prime Minister's package effectively for the development of the state. ''While a huge plan outlay for North East development reflected the Prime Minister's committment to the region, I assure you of supporting all development proposals in the region so that the gulf between New Delhi and NE, particularly Arunachal is bridged,'' he said.

Interweaving traditions with modernity, Nyokum (Nyok means earth and um means collective) is celebrated with the 'Vasudaivo Kutumbakam' spirit for the greater welfare of the humanity. It breaks all barriers to merge the tribe with the human race, he said while greeting the people on the occasion.

Indigenous National Party of Tripura (INPT) president and MLA Bijay Kumar Hrangkhal, the guest of honour on the occasion, called for united efforts in the region to bring in more inputs from the Centre.

''There are lots of similarities among the tribes of the region, which make them inseparable,'' he said, while adding, festivals are the best way to preserve and promote the region's culture which would enrich the cultural mosaic of the nation.

Governor General (Retd) J J Singh, while gracing the celebration in Itanagar, called for collective efforts by all communities for bringing about prosperity in the state.

Stressing the need to make combined effort to bring Arunachal Pradesh at par with other developed states of the country, the former Army chief emphasised on public-private partnership (PPP) for exploiting the rich tourism potential of the state, adding that the state was blessed with a beautiful landscape, right from the ice-capped mountains in the north making it the Switzerland of the East, to the beautiful terrain of the foothill areas.

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