Itanagar, Aug 16: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday called upon the people of Arunachal Pradesh to unite behind a shared vision of building a developed, resilient and prosperous Arunachal by 2047, while safeguarding its indigenous identity, culture and natural heritage.
Addressing the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Indira Gandhi Park here, Khandu said the State’s development must be driven by the aspirations of its people and guided by the broader national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The Chief Minister paid homage to freedom fighters and nation-builders and remembered those who lost their lives in the recent floods and landslides in Arunachal Pradesh and neighbouring Assam and Nagaland. He assured that the government would continue to provide support to affected communities and strengthen disaster-resilient infrastructure.
Highlighting the progress of the past decade, Khandu said Team Arunachal had worked to overcome the State’s difficult terrain, connectivity gaps and geographical challenges. He said women, farmers, youth, entrepreneurs and communities in remote and border areas were increasingly becoming active participants in the State’s development.
Presenting the progress under the government’s Panch Pratigya, the Chief Minister highlighted five key areas—quality education, agricultural prosperity, development in harmony with nature, green energy and sustainable tourism.
He said Mission Shikshit Arunachal had received major investments for improving school infrastructure, learning outcomes, teacher development and digital education. Phase-I involved an investment of Rs 3,112.50 crore, while Phase-II has been approved with an outlay of Rs 1,500 crore.
On agriculture, Khandu said the government was promoting high-value crops and allied sectors to transform farming into a source of prosperity and entrepreneurship. He also highlighted initiatives in horticulture, floriculture, fisheries, livestock, sericulture and apiculture.
Emphasising environmental conservation, he said Arunachal’s development model must protect its forests, rivers and biodiversity. The State, he added, was also seeking to create new green livelihood opportunities by linking its rich biodiversity and traditional knowledge with wider value chains.
Khandu said Arunachal had a crucial role in India’s clean-energy transition and reiterated the State’s ambition to become the Green Energy Capital of India. He said the government’s hydropower roadmap envisages commissioning nearly 19 GW of capacity during the 2025–35 Decade of Hydropower.
Tourism, he said, had emerged as another major growth engine, with tourist footfall nearly tripling over the past decade. The government would continue to promote eco-tourism, community tourism, spiritual and heritage tourism, river tourism and farm tourism, while ensuring protection of the State’s cultural and environmental assets.
On governance, Khandu said the government was working towards a more transparent, responsive and citizen-centric administrative system. More than 16 lakh services have been delivered directly to citizens through over 1,300 outreach camps under initiatives such as Sarkar Aapke Dwar and Seva Aapke Dwar 2.0
He also announced that a Reform Utsav would be launched on October 2, 2026, to encourage citizens to contribute suggestions for improving governance and converting useful ideas into concrete reforms.
The Chief Minister said Rs 7,834 crore had been approved for 2026–29 under the Chief Minister Comprehensive Schemes and Mission Shikshit Arunachal, covering roads, rural connectivity, power infrastructure and education.
On healthcare, he outlined a series of measures under CM CARES, including strengthened health insurance, organ transplant support, emergency healthcare, free chemotherapy and social security initiatives. He also announced Mission SURAKSHA, a state response to combat drug abuse through prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and enforcement.
Khandu reiterated his government’s commitment to protecting the State’s indigenous faiths, languages, customs, festivals and traditional knowledge. He said four high-powered committees were examining issues concerning APST safeguards, the ILP framework, illegal infiltration and other matters affecting indigenous communities.
Making a special appeal to the youth, Khandu said the future of Arunachal could not be built by the government alone. He urged young people to move beyond dependence on government jobs and explore entrepreneurship, technology, agriculture, tourism, sports, research and innovation.
With Arunachal Pradesh set to complete 40 years of Statehood on February 20, 2027, the Chief Minister called for collective reflection on the State’s future course of development.
He said the next decade would be a period of accelerated delivery and deeper transformation, with the government committed to ensuring that every town and village benefited from better infrastructure and improved opportunities.
Khandu concluded by urging the people of Arunachal Pradesh to move forward with unity, confidence and determination towards Viksit Arunachal 2047, while contributing to the making of a Viksit Bharat.