PASIGHAT, Aug 10: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday inaugurated the NCC Academy Complex at Pasighat, describing it as an important investment in character-building, leadership development and the nation-building potential of Arunachal Pradesh’s youth.
Addressing the inaugural function, Khandu said the academy would provide young cadets with an institutional platform to develop discipline, leadership, physical fitness, patriotism and a spirit of service, besides encouraging them to pursue careers in the Armed Forces.
“The youth are the greatest strength of Arunachal Pradesh. Our responsibility is not merely to provide them education and employment opportunities, but also to build their character and instill in them the values of discipline, responsibility and service,” he said.
Highlighting initiatives to encourage more Arunachali youth to join the Armed Forces as officers, Khandu said the State Government had launched the Chief Minister’s Frontier Sainik School Scholarship Scheme, under which financial assistance would be provided to Arunachali students studying in eight notified Sainik Schools and the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun.
He also announced that an Indian Army-led officer-level coaching-cum-mentorship programme for Arunachal students would begin soon. The initiative, he said, would provide focused guidance to students aspiring to join Sainik and Military Schools and eventually become officers in the Armed Forces.
“I see the NCC Academy, the Frontier Sainik School Scholarship Scheme and the Indian Army-led mentorship programme as complementary initiatives. Together, they create a stronger ecosystem for discipline, leadership, military education and national service,” Khandu said.
Urging NCC cadets to look beyond conventional career choices, the Chief Minister encouraged them to aspire to leadership positions in the Armed Forces.
He recalled the role of the NCC in shaping generations of young Indians and said Arunachal Pradesh, as a strategically important frontier state, would benefit immensely from a stronger NCC ecosystem.
Khandu expressed confidence that the Pasighat academy would emerge as a premier training centre for NCC cadets from Arunachal Pradesh and the wider Northeast, offering modern training facilities and opportunities to interact with trained instructors and personnel from the Armed Forces.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the opportunities and challenges emerging from the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and social media.
“Technology is a powerful tool. Artificial Intelligence can open up tremendous opportunities for our youth, but we must also understand its limitations and use it responsibly,” he said.
He urged cadets to use social media positively, remain alert to misinformation and cyber risks, and develop the ability to distinguish reliable information from misleading content.
Khandu said the values of discipline, critical thinking and responsible citizenship imparted through NCC training were particularly relevant at a time when young people were constantly exposed to information and influences through digital platforms.
He emphasised that technology should remain a means to enhance human potential rather than become a distraction from education, physical fitness, personal development and social responsibility.
Highlighting the role of youth in nation-building and India’s vision of Viksit Bharat, Khandu said, “Viksit Bharat cannot be achieved without a Viksit Arunachal, and a Viksit Arunachal cannot be built without empowered, disciplined and responsible youth.”
He said the State Government would continue to support initiatives providing youth opportunities in education, sports, skill development, entrepreneurship and leadership, while encouraging them to explore careers in the Armed Forces and other national services.
Congratulating the NCC authorities, state government departments and agencies involved in establishing the academy, Khandu expressed confidence that the facility would develop into a centre of excellence for youth development.
He also called upon parents, educational institutions and society to encourage more young people to join the NCC and benefit from its training, discipline and leadership programmes.