Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki on Thursday said the country needed a strong anti-racial law not just in view of the recent death of Nido Tania in a racist attack in Delhi, but also to ensure that such incidents did not occur in future, and discrimination towards the people of the northeast could be prevented.
In his speech on the occasion of the 28th Statehood Day of Arunachal Pradesh, Mr. Tuki told a gathering at the Indira Gandhi Park here that President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had supported the enactment of a strong anti-racial law.
“There have been few unpleasant incidents in the recent past which have shaken the State and its people. The whole world stood behind Arunachal Pradesh to protest the racial death of our son Nido Tania,” he said.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the event, Mr. Tuki said his government had decided to focus on the border and interior areas of the State so that people could enjoy the fruits of development and did not have to migrate to urban areas for modern facilities. Asked about the progress of 1,645-km long Trans-Arunachal Highway from Tawang to Kanubari in Changlang district, Mr. Tuki said there had been some delay in getting clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests in some stretches, but the work had now picked up momentum.
“The transition of this hilly landlocked State over the years has been incredible. The State has transcended from its infant stage to one of the fastest growing States of the country today,” he said.
Mr. Tuki announced the enhancement of the daily minimum wages of labourers from the existing Rs. 80-90 a day to Rs. 150-170 in case of unskilled labourers, and from the existing Rs. 85-95 to Rs. 160-180 in case of semi-skilled and from Rs. 90-100 to Rs. 170-190 in case of skilled labourers.He announced the establishment of a Chief Minister’s livelihood mission school in each Assembly constituency to impart skills to unemployed youth.
Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt. Gen. (retired) Nirbhay Sharma, said in his speech that the State government would continue to address the challenges of underdevelopment in interior and remote areas.
The first day of the three-day Statehood Day function and festival of Arunachal Pradesh witnessed the display of the State’s rich culture with dance troupes of various tribes performing traditional dances. Ethnic cuisines, handloom and handicraft products of various groups were also showcased at the festival.
