GOVERNOR’S SECRETARIAT
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
ITANAGAR

No. IPR (PR)-03/2008                                            Dated Naharlagun the 2nd April, 2010

PRESS RELEASE – 363

Home minister visits Poma and Gekar Sinyi

Chidambaram for replication of Poma Project for rural economic empowerment

 Itanagar, April 2: “Education, Health and development with come if there is economic activities,” said Union Home minister P Chidambaram, while launching the production of bamboo products at Bamboo Processing Centre at Poma, 32 km from Itanagar today. Referring to the Poma Project he said “ I am pleased to see the first fruit of the project initiated by the Governor, which is facilitating in the socio-economic development of the area. This is a very interesting experiment, which teaches many lessons and from where the Government can learn lots.” reports PRO to Governor.

            Chidambaram, who was very impressed by the produce, even purchased some items as souvenir and encourage the rural community to focus on such activities, which can be achieved without destroying the environment and the culture.

            Union Minister who released a booklet on harnessing potentials of bamboo on the occasion, highlighting on the value addition initiative said, cane and bamboo have been part of our life since ages but we never realized the potential. These initiatives not only improve our skill but also give good returns for our hard work.

            Quoting Pandit Nehru’s quotation, ‘welcome a guest and send back a friend,’ Chidambaram stressed on tourism in the state. Pointing at the huge employment opportunities in the sector, the Union Minister, who also visited the Gekar Sinyi lake on the day said, unspoiled environment, clean air, clean water and simple people we have in the State, there are million and million people in the world to come and see Arunachal. He went on to compare the Arunachal Pradesh with that of Sikkim and Bhutan.

            Reassuring the promises made by Dr. Manmohan Singh, Union Minister said, we in the Government always stand by the people of Arunachal Pradesh. The youth of the State should have belief that they have a bright future.

            Earlier, addressing the gathering Arunachal Pradesh Governor, Gen JJ Singh appreciated the hard work put in by the people on the success of the project. Hoping for some more such projects in other parts of the State, he said, these project will not only help in financial empowerment of the people but also arrest the migration of people to urban areas, which has been cause of concern for all.

            Gen Singh added, the true potential of this project was realized as this nucleus at the core energized the entire economy, and subsequently the developmental mosaic of the entire village. The project heralded an era of development not only in Poma but also brought in related benefits to other villages in the area. As the visibility of this project increased, it started getting focus and importance from the entire State. The Education Department upgraded the existing village school and also added additional classrooms. Several teaching and learning aids were also provided to the school under the SSA.

The road leading to this village was taken up under PMGSY and is today transformed into a black-top road from a muddy and slushy stretch a year ago. The health Department chipped in and upgraded the health facilities in the village. The Power Department set up a separate transformer for this Center as a result of which the power supply here improved considerably. The Tourism Department proposed an adventure tourism project on the Poma River nearby which has been approved by the Govt. of India. With the intervention and all-round support of Govt. Departments, a sense of ownership was generated among the villagers which is somewhat missing in many Govt. initiatives. He also threw lights on organic farming, bee keeping, fisheries and horticulture activities, which the villagers took up after the Poma Project started.

            Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation Ltd Managing Director, GN Sinha , in his welcome address said, Poma bamboo processing centre is an integral part of the strategy to convert Poma into a model village in Arunachal Pradesh, which envisages implementation of scheme from relevant development sectors aimed at bringing about integrated development of the not only Poma village but all the villages around it. He added, mooted by the Governor, it aims at gender and economic empowerment of the villagers. Poma Panchayat Anchal Samiti Member Techi Ana, who also spoke on the occasion, said visit of the union Minister to the village and to the Center will always remain a guiding force and also a source of inspiration.

            A three-point memorandum for early notifying of Poma village as a model village, establishment of cultural centre at Poma and establishment of a National Institute of Technology at Jote was submitted by Upper Balijan ZPM Nabam Sukia.

            State Home Mnister Tako Dabi, PWD Minister Nabum Tuki and Parliamentary Secretary Kumar Waii and with hosts of officials and public leaders were present on the occasion.

            Earlier on his arrival to the village, the Union Minister was accorded a warm traditional reception led by the local MLA Nabum Rebia. The Union Minister went around the center and interacted with the artisans and craftsmen. Live demonstration of craft making and handloom was also presented on the occasion along with display of indigenous produce, such as cane and bamboo, handloom, handicrafts, horticulture produce, which was organized by government departments.

            Before arriving at Poma, the Union Minister visited the famous Gekar Sinyi Lake. As a goodwill gesture, he released six hundred fingering size fish seeds of common carp, Mrigal and tilapia, adds the Rajbhawan report.

Sd/ D.Dodum,PRO