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He urged community-based organizations (CBOs) to lead the statewide campaign for transparency, saying the government cannot allow a few individuals to derail progress because of greed.
Addressing the 14th general conference of the Nyishi Elite Society (NES) at Koloriang in Kurung Kumey district, Khandu said the taxpayers’ money invested in the development of Arunachal should be protected, an official statement here said.
He said, “Whose money is this? It belongs to the taxpayers of this country. The Center has invested thousands of crores of rupees for the development of Arunachal, and we cannot allow a few individuals to disrupt the progress.” He said that strict action would be taken against those found guilty.
Describing the Frontier Highway as a transformative project for the frontier districts, the Chief Minister regretted that alleged irregularities had already delayed the deadline.
He appealed to the NES to lead a strong movement against corruption and the growing money culture.
Khandu also urged CBOs, NGOs and student bodies to intensify the campaign against electoral malpractices in view of the Panchayat and Municipal Corporation elections.
As the apex body of the state’s largest tribe, the NES plays the responsibility of a ‘big brother’ in guiding and uniting Arunachal’s 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes, he said.
He praised the society’s work in education, youth empowerment, cultural preservation and social reforms, saying, “In a diverse state like ours, organizations like NES are important to strengthen unity in diversity, which is our greatest strength.”
Khandu welcomed the inclusion of an environmental protection session at the conference, calling it “timely and necessary”.
He expressed concern over the large-scale felling of hills, especially in the Itanagar capital region, and urged the community to promote construction practices suited to the terrain.
The Chief Minister sought the support of NES in improving education standards and tackling the growing menace of drug abuse, noting that CBOs have unparalleled impact at the grassroots level.
On the issue of illegal immigrants, Khandu said that a review at the government level has revealed flaws in the existing Inner Line Permit (ILP) system.
“We are working to completely digitalize the ILP system, remove loopholes, ensure accountability and make employers responsible for migrant workers,” he said.
Reiterating concern over youth unemployment, the Chief Minister urged the CBO to promote the dignity of labour.
“Unless our youth understand that no job is small, the influx of migrant workers will continue and affect our demographic balance,” he warned.