ITANAGAR, Feb 18: Chief Minister Pema Khandu today opined that Arunachal Pradesh was accorded statehood in 1987 before it had actually matured enough, adding that the state could have continued as a Union Territory for a few more years.
Speaking at a symposium on ‘Youth Perspective on Development and Changes in Arunachal Pradesh in 50 years’ held here as a part of 50 Years of Arunachal Pradesh celebrations, Khandu raised the quality in education to prove his point. He said during the UT times, schools in the state were very few but the quality of education was very high.
“The generation that received education during the NEFA and UT times were really educated. The quality of education reflected in their services. However, after becoming a full-fledged state the scenario changed,” he claimed.
Khandu pointed hundreds of schools were established across the state but the quality in education dropped sharply.
He, however, asserted that nothing would be achieved by pondering on what went wrong or put the blame on any individual or political party. He called for making the wrong right through administrative and political reforms.
“Since assuming the chief minister’s office, it has been my endeavour to bring in reforms with strong political will. Therefore, I had to take decisions, which at times, were frowned upon. One such decision was to establish the State Staff Selection Board,” he said. 
This decision, Khandu said, broke the tradition of ‘job for vote’ and ‘job for cash’ prevalent across the state, therefore frowned upon.
“A Cabinet order would have done the job. But I insisted on making it an Act so that it cannot be tinkered by any chief minister or political party in the future easily. For any amendment or dissolution, it will have to brought to the floor of the Assembly, which will not be an easy sailing as people outside the Assembly won’t allow it,” he explained.  
“Today youths with merit and not those with connections are getting government jobs. In 5 to 10 years from now government offices will be different altogether- more honest, more efficient and more responsible, you will see,” Khandu said. 
He called upon the youths to be responsible to their job at hand, whatever it may be and insisted on changing the mindset of only depending upon the government for all needs and only blaming the government for all problems. 
“Questioning the government is good for its is the sign of a healthy democracy. At the same time we need to question the role of all stakeholders and most importantly we need to  question ourselves. Question what we could have contributed in solving the problem,” he pointed.
Khandu expressed hope that the symposium will raise important issues and way forward with youths in the center stage upon which the government can build on. While informing that the state Budget Session will begin from March 11 next, he hoped suggestions coming out of the symposium may help the government in formulating the state budget for the next financial year.
“You can also login to arunachalbudget.in and submit your views and suggestions till 28th February. We promise that each and every suggestion would be considered seriously in budget preparation. This is the government’s commitment for a participatory budget since last 5-6 years,” he said.
Khandu further said that there should be a collective and continued effort to strengthen the bond within the tribes of the state. 
“There will be very few who have traveled to all the districts of Arunachal Pradesh. To encourage inter-district and inter-tribe travels we introduced the ‘Dekho Apna Pradesh’ program. Youths need to travel to other districts. Know your state, take pride in the diversity and then explore the world with your head held high,” Khandu added.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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