Arunachal: New buses boost student mobility at state government colleges

Arunachal Pradesh's Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona launched four new student buses on February 21, marking a significant step toward improving accessibility to higher education in the state.

 

The buses will serve government colleges in four districts: Daporijo (Upper Subansiri), Roing (Lower Dibang Valley), Deomali (Tirap), and Doimukh (Papum Pare). This initiative aims to help students who struggle with long commutes from remote areas to their colleges.

 

During the launch, Minister Sona outlined broader education reforms planned for the state, including a recently approved three-year development plan. "We're focusing on infrastructure development, teacher training, and enhanced curriculum activities," he said. The minister also announced stricter oversight of private schools, referencing recent fines imposed on 35 institutions for non-compliance with guidelines.

 

Milo Rai Modi, Director of Higher and Technical Education, explained that these four buses are part of a larger initiative to provide transportation to all 19 government colleges in the state. "We have secured funding for both procurement and maintenance of these vehicles," Modi said.

 

The minister addressed several other pressing issues, including the recent assault on an Arunachalee student in Delhi, which he strongly condemned. He assured that North East NGOs and police would investigate the incident thoroughly.

 

Speaking about tourism, Sona highlighted Arunachal's recent recognition as the Best Off-beat Mountain Destination. He emphasised that infrastructure alone isn't enough to boost tourism, calling for improved hospitality services across the state.

 

The minister concluded by announcing plans to switch to Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for school uniform distribution, citing past challenges with quality control and delivery in remote areas.