NAMSAI, Nov 19: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Sunday unveiled 14 numbers of 11-feet-tall statues of Lord Buddha at the Mahabodhi Skill Development Centre, Nongtaw in Namsai district.
In all, 108 sacred Buddha statues are aimed to be installed in the Centre, with a view to maintain serenity of the pristine nature and to arrest rampant shifting cultivation and deforestation.
Mein also inaugurated the handloom weaving and carpentry workshop, and monk’s dining hall, besides laying the foundation stone for construction of a hostel building for trainees and an administrative block for the Centre.
In his address to the gathering, the Deputy CM said that the number 108 signifies 108 qualities of Lord Buddha. He opined that the Mahabodhi Society with its centres spreading across the country can go beyond spiritualism and spread its work to the health and educational sectors too.
With this objective in mind, the Mahabodhi Lord Buddha College at Namsai was started in 2013 which is affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh. He expressed hope that in coming years, this college will further evolve into an independent university.
He expressed that the Mahabodhi Skill Development Centre transforms into a learning institute, while citing that Monastic Institutes of Buddhist are based on the Gurukul system. He further opined to establish a school alongside the Skill Development Centre which will impart monastic teaching along with the CBSE education.
Mein stated that he envisions the Centre to grow bigger and transform itself into one of the premier spiritual and tourist destinations. In this regard, he urged the collective participation of society members.
He called for the initiation of a 10-bedded monk's hostel through voluntary contributions to support their initiative for the conservation of the region's natural beauty and biodiversity besides promoting spiritualism and mental peace.
He further informed that he is contemplating to construct a grand 108-feet statue of Lord Buddha on the hill top, envisaging it as an emblematic addition to the Centre's beauty.
He assured construction of approach roads and security fencing around the Centre to protect its large sprawling area from encroachment. He also opined for establishment of a security force in the area.
He lauded the initiative of the Director, Mahabodhi Skill Development Centre, Ven Bhikkhu Sangharakkhita for his innovativeness and development of an echo-friendly centre.
On the occasion, two books - ‘Basics of Buddhism’ and the ‘Living Legacy of the Buddha’, dedicated to the Deputy Chief Minister and his family, were also released.
Among others, former Minister CC Singpho, chairman of Mahabodhi Maitri Mandala Arunachal Centres, Ven Bhikkhu Panyarakkhita, Director of Mahabodhi Monastic Institute, Bengaluru, Ven Bhikkhu Panyaloka, Namsai ZPC Urmila Manchykhun, district BJP president Chau Sujana Namchoom, DC C R Khampa and SP Sangey Thinley were present on the occasion.
New ADC office bldg: Meanwhile, the Deputy CM inaugurated the new office building of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) at Chongkham.
In his address to the people, Mein said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Pema Khandu and with steadfast support from Cabinet colleagues, the Govt of Arunachal Pradesh has placed a paramount focus of bringing administration to the doorstep of the people. “The completion of new office structures for ADC headquarters in Chongkham and Wakro within the current tenure exemplifies this commitment, paving the way for more efficient governance at the grassroots level,” he said.
He applauded Deputy Commissioner C R Khampa’s assurance to implement Jan Suvidha in the ADC headquarters. This move will streamline document issuance, sparing citizens the inconvenience of traveling to the district headquarters, he added.
Mein also inaugurated an exam hall cum auditorium of Govt Higher Secondary School, Chongkham, fulfilling a long-standing demand of the school authorities and the students.
He further informed that GHSS Chongkham will be taken up under the Golden Jubilee Model School Program and its infrastructure will be upgraded. He exhorted the students to focus on their studies and wished them for a bright and successful career.