Arunachal Cabinet clears Rs 1,500-crore education mission, sports job scheme, ease of doing business reforms

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Itanagar, Nov 14 (IANS) The Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, on Saturday approved a series of major decisions aimed at strengthening education and sports, improving public service delivery, promoting ease of doing business and enhancing administrative efficiency in the state.

A key decision was the approval of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for implementing Mission Shikshit Arunachal by 2029, with an indicative financial outlay of Rs 1,500 crore for 2026-27 to 2028-29.

The mission aims to upgrade essential school infrastructure, including classrooms, school buildings, hostels, science laboratories, libraries and teachers’ quarters.

During the first phase, more than 800 schools were upgraded with an investment of Rs 3,612 crore, including more than 120 hostels, 152 science laboratories and 159 libraries.

The second phase will focus on district-based planning, digital monitoring, geo-tagging and third-party verification to ensure transparency and accountability.

The State Cabinet also approved the Chief Minister’s Sports Talent Appointment and Recognition Scheme (CM-STARS), which will provide direct government employment to medal-winning athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Asian Games, Asian Para Games and Commonwealth Games through amendments to the Arunachal Pradesh Sports Policy, 2017.

In a major citizen-centric reform, the state Cabinet approved amendments to the Arunachal Pradesh (Methods and Procedures of Delivery of Services) Rules, 2017, introducing automated appeal processing, online filing and automatic escalation of appeals in cases of delayed service delivery.

The revised rules also provide for compensatory payments to citizens affected by delays and direct financial accountability of defaulting public servants.

To promote ease of doing business, the state Cabinet approved rationalisation of dual licensing requirements for 28 categories of establishments operating within municipal areas.

Businesses holding valid statutory licences or registrations from competent Central or state authorities will no longer need separate municipal trade licences, although other applicable municipal regulations will remain in force.

The state Cabinet also approved the revised Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Policy for rural and urban water supply systems to ensure the long-term sustainability of drinking water infrastructure, with greater participation of gram panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees.

Another major decision was the approval of the Arunachal Pradesh Airport Development Authority Land Disposal Rules, 2026, which provide a framework for transparent land management and investment through a leasehold-based system.

The rules are expected to support the development of Hollongi Aero-City and attract investments in commercial, residential, logistics and hospitality sectors.

The state Cabinet further approved a MoU between the Department of Geology and Mining and the Arunachal Pradesh Space Application Centre (APSAC) for using geospatial technologies, satellite imagery and drone surveys in mineral resource mapping and monitoring.

Other decisions included enhancement of timber royalty rates, creation of posts in several departments, and approval of recruitment rules for various government departments.

These decisions are aimed at accelerating development, strengthening governance and improving public service delivery across Arunachal Pradesh.

–IANS

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Leaders of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), actor Babu Mohan and NTR’s fans also paid floral tributes and recalled his services to Telugu people.

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Popular actor and TDP MLA Balakrishna said after paying tributes that NTR will be remembered as long as the sun shines.

He recalled that NTR not only earned immense popularity with his film but also created a sensation by founding TDP in the early 1980s.

Balakrishna said NTR provided political representation to the backward classes, weaker sections and minorities, and implemented several pro-poor schemes, which became a role model for the entire country.

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NTR’s another son, Ramakrishna, and granddaughter, Suhasini, launched a rally at Rasoolpura Junction in Begumpet, which culminated at NTR Ghat.

Suhasini recalled that NTR abolished the ‘patel-patwari system’ in the then undivided Andhra Pradesh and launched revolutionary welfare schemes.

Lakshmi Parvathi said that NTR will live forever in the hearts of people. She said that the late leader never bowed before anybody till his last breath.

NTR’s daughter and BJP MP Purandeswari stated that even after 30 years, NTR is still alive in people’s hearts. She called him a great leader who used politics to serve people. She pointed out that the schemes launched by NTR are still being implemented in the country.

NTR’s another daughter, Bhuvaneswari, and her son, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh, visited NTR Ghat to pay tributes.

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Legendary actor NTR had launched TDP in 1982 on the slogan of Telugu self-respect and created a record of sorts by coming to power within nine months, ending the single-party rule of Congress in the undivided Andhra Pradesh.

He died on January 18, 1996, a few months after his son-in-law, N. Chandrababu Naidu, led a revolt and became the Chief Minister.

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CM Shivakumar makes surprise early morning visit to Karnataka’s Mangaluru port; interacts with fishermen

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District In-charge Minister U.T. Khader, Congress leaders Padmaraj and Inayat Ali, former president of the Dakshina Kannada District Trawl Boat Fishermen’s Association Chetan Bengre, Mohan Bengre and other local leaders were present during the visit.

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