ROING, Aug 7: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein today while inaugurating a library at the Research Institute of World’s Ancient Traditions, Cultures & Heritage (RIWATCH) here in the headquarters of Lower Dibang Valley district said the institute should become a centre of learning, research and cultural heritage in Arunachal Pradesh.
While underscoring the need for proper documentation of the rich cultures and traditions of various indigenous tribes of the state in digital format, Mein lauded the initiatives of the RIWATCH Documentation Centre and urged it to document more traditional cultures and healing practices of the state’s ethnic communities. “Indigenous cultures also get preference in the United Nations Organization and accordingly the state government is also giving emphasis in their preservation and promotion and has thus created the Department of Indigenous Affairs,” the DCM said, observing that there is a silent revolution of indigenous cultures and traditions in the state. Reiterating the need for establishing handloom centres in every district to promote the state’s indigenous textiles products, Mein said that visitors to the state who intend to buy such products are often unable due to lack of such centres, adding that the issue would be taken up in the next state budget. 
Speaking about the need of strengthening the research and development wings in the state for engaging the young scientists under agriculture and allied sectors, the DCM said that a lot of research works on the state’s medicinal plants need to be carried out and RIWATCH can extend their expertise. He also called upon the departments to promote Self Help Groups and carry out soil surveys before selecting crops. He also asked the institute to send an innovative scheme under District Innovation Fund to be taken up in the coming financial year. Mein lauded the RIWATCH Executive Director Vijay Swami for his dedication and rendering voluntary services to the state and praised Padma Shree Awardee Sathyanarayanan Mundayoor for starting Children’s Library in Lohit district as early as in 2007 which later took the shape of a pan-Arunachal library movement. Mein also laid the foundation stone for the 2nd Block of the RIWATCH museum and released a book titled ‘Aasahi- Idu Azobra Level-1’ published by the Idu-Mishmi Cultural Literary Society. 
Minister of Education, Culture & Indigenous Affairs Taba Tedir said that Arunachal Pradesh is the first state in the country to create the Department of Indigenous Affairs which is a reflection of the government’s seriousness in preserving and promoting the state’s rich indigenous cultures and heritage. “Enough initiatives and provisions for preservation and promotion of indigenous cultures and traditions have been given in the last state budget. Honorarium to priests and a budget provision of Rs 5 crore for celebration of indigenous festivals were some of the initiatives,” Tedir added, informing that local dialects as the third language in pre-primary school will be introduced from this year onwards. This year the Nyishi dialect will be introduced and taught in Nyishi inhabited areas and likewise Galo, Rangfra and all other local dialects will also be introduced in the subsequent years as and when their scripts are ready, he informed.
Commissioner (Planning & Investment) Prashant Lokhande, Chairman, RIWATCH Joram Begi, its Executive Director and Padma Shree Awardee cum Adviser, RIWATCH Sathyanarayanan Mundayoor spoke on the occasion. 
Among others, former Chief Minister of the state and former Lt. Governor of Puducherry Mukut Mithi, MLAs-Gum Tayeng (Dambuk) and Mutchu Mithi (Roing), ZPC Obang Ngupok, DC, LDV KN Damo, SP James K Lego, Director of Indigenous Affairs Tai Taguk and HoDs were present during the inaugural event. 

---

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

<< Back to News List