ITANAGAR, Dec 9: 
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said that the Look East Policy should be conceptualized in action and should not remain in paper to reap the benefits out of it.
          In his closing remarks of the two days Conclave on “Dream Change: Reshaping the development of Arunachal Pradesh” organized at the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly building here today, Mein said that this is not the end but a new beginning. He said that the outcome and recommendations of the Conclave would be of immense help to the government in formulating a pragmatic and people friendly policies to be incorporated in the coming budget. Saying that development and research should go hand in hand, he laid stress on engaging the young scientists of the state in the research of the bio-diversity of the states so that GI registration for the rich bio-resources of the State can be done and turned it beneficial for the people.  
Stating that the Geological Survey of India has made survey of only 10% of the State, the DCM called for making complete survey of whole of the State to unearth the mining and mineral resources of the State. With a view to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the State in the form of documentation, he informed that an MoU with the Foreign Scholar by the Research Department will soon be made on research and documentation in Indigenous Healing System of Arunachal Tribes. It will remain an asset for the Govt of Arunachal Pradesh, he said. 
Mein expressed happiness that the State Wine Policy introduced by him during the year 2014-15 when he was the Minister of Horticulture has finally borne fruits and own State wine in the form of “Naraa Aba” is being produced today. He lauded Tage Rita, the founder of the first Organic Kiwi Wine of the Country and said “she is as an inspiration to all of Arunachal” and a true daughter of a farmer. He dedicated the evening in the name of “Farmer’s Daughter of Arunachal Pradesh”. 
The DCM said that Arunachal Pradesh is passing through a phase of silent revolution through agriculture and horticulture, adding that on realizing the huge scope of these sectors for attaining sustainable development, the State Govt is according top priority to these sectors. He said that supply of low quality planting materials being the major problem, the State Govt has kept fund for development of quality planting materials in the State’s own departmental farm in the last budget.  He said that the Govt is also working to replace an alternate crop for poppy cultivation as per the soil health and suitability and to take up terrace cultivations in food grain deficit districts for which fund has already been kept in the last budget. On the occasion, he called upon the work executing agencies to use best road building technologies to arrest the landslides in order to curtail the recurring expenditure on road maintenance.
          Chief Secretary Satya Gopal said that the two day discourse is a new beginning for formulating a better development agenda for the state where in the ‘Team Arunachal’ led by chief minister Pema Khandu would recommend and implement the policy decisions in five thematic sectors which are the core challenges faced by the state. Saying that the conclave is an effort to bring about transformation in policy making, the Chief Secretary opined that every policy decision should have brain-storming discussions at every level for effective implementation. 
The share of agriculture has decreased over time and land potential wasted due to primitive way of farming, he informed, adding that the share of job creation in industrial sector is additionally low at only 10%. He further opined for giving more focus to create job creators for generating employment avenues in the state. 
          While highlighting on the two days deliberations, the Chief Secretary informed that the credit profile of the state is low with CD ratio of 30 against the norm of 60 due to poor outreach of banking sector in the state. He stressed on the need to increase and augment the institutional banking credit system in Arunachal Pradesh to do away with the problem. As the state is rich in biodiversity, the conclave dwelt on the need to harness the potential to make the state a viable tourism spot for more employment and resource generation, he disclosed, while emphasizing on the need to promote eco tourism, agri & allied sectors, organic production, besides value change in exotic fruits.
Emphasizing on the need to focus on educational outcome rather than literacy level, the Chief Secretary advocated for setting up of residential schools in all districts, besides talent hunt examinations in schools.
Earlier, Finance Commissioner Ashish Kundra while summing up the two days conclave, highlighted on the recommendations made on the five thematic clusters.
Among others, N.N Sinha, Managing Director NHIDCL, Yaduvendra Mathur, Addl. Secretary NITI Aayog, K. K Sharma, Secretary Deptt of Higher Education, MHRD, GoI, Vinay Sheel Oberoi, IAS (Rtd) and Falguni Raj Kr, Ex Secretary NEC also spoke on the occasion. 
Organized by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh in collaboration with Rajiv Gandhi University and CCRD, over 130 speakers and more than 800 delegates participated in the conclave which had deliberations on 5(five) thematic clusters, namely  - Economy & development, Expanding Agriculture and Allied sectors, Challenges of Education, Skilling for the Future, Health Service Delivery, and  Protection and Continuity of Tangible and Intangible Heritage and Cultural Expressions, besides various other sub themes on each theme.
The participants included policy makers, experts, bureaucrats, academicians, professionals, practitioners, researchers, scholars, thought leaders and students.

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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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