Itanagar, Jul 27: The Press Information Bureau (PIB), Itanagar, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, on Monday organised 'Vartalap 2026', a media outreach programme highlighting the Union Government's achievements over the past 12 years and encouraging youth participation in the nationwide 'Gems of India' Challenge.
Held under the overarching theme "12 Years of the Union Government: From Empowerment to Prosperity — A Step Towards the Future," the programme aimed to strengthen engagement with regional media, showcase key developmental milestones, and promote the national initiative to identify and nurture grassroots digital creators.
The programme was attended by Joint Director, PIB Itanagar, Utsav Parmar; Director of Information and Public Relations, Arunachal Pradesh, Gijum Tali; and Professor of Commerce at Rajiv Gandhi University, Sanjeev Kumar Jena.
Addressing the gathering, Utsav Parmar described the 'Gems of India' Challenge as an important platform for young creators to showcase Arunachal Pradesh's rich cultural heritage, traditions and history before a national audience through creative storytelling.
He urged the youth of the state to participate actively in the initiative, saying it would provide them with an opportunity to demonstrate their talent while promoting the unique identity of Arunachal Pradesh. Parmar also highlighted the progress made in the state's education, healthcare and connectivity sectors over the past 12 years.
Speaking on the occasion, IPR Director Gijum Tali said Arunachal Pradesh has witnessed significant transformation in infrastructure, along with air and road connectivity under various central initiatives, resulting in notable socio-economic development across the state.
He observed that programmes such as the 'Gems of India' Challenge complement these developments by empowering young people to use digital platforms and visual communication to project the state's cultural richness and emerging opportunities.
Prof Sanjeev Kumar Jena highlighted the country's progress in infrastructure, healthcare and digital development, while stressing the need to build sustainable economic ecosystems, particularly in frontier states like Arunachal Pradesh, to ensure long-term and inclusive growth.
The 'Vartalap' outreach series serves as an interactive platform to strengthen dialogue between government communicators, academic institutions and regional media, while facilitating the dissemination of information on government policies and development initiatives at the grassroots level.