From our Correspondent

Itanagar, June 23: While asserting that development of society comes on top of trivial politics, RWD & Tourism Minister Pema Khandu called upon the youth brigade to become the torch bearer for bringing about radical changes in the society.

He was addressing the valedictory function of the three-day district level training programme on Panchayat Mahila Evam Yuva Shakti Abhiyan at Tawang on Saturday, official sources informed.

Pema exhorted the Panchayat leaders particularly the youth and women leaders to make best use of the knowledge gained in the training for development at the grassroot level through various flagship programmes of the Centre and the State government.

While acknowledging the role of women PR leaders, he said, “Our women folk had long been the home makers and now they have stepped off the threshold of home to shape the society as Panchayat leaders, which undoubtedly is a giant leap in the process of our society’s development.”

Earlier, the minister during the day visited the ropeway from Tawang Monastery to Gyangong Anni Gompa to assess the requirements for operating the 1.2 Km ropeway. Representatives of Damodar Ropeways & Infra Ltd installed the ropeway. It is the only company available in the eastern India to operate ropeways. Their representatives were also present.

The company expressed its willingness to operate the ropeway subject to availability of power supply and DG set provisions.

Pema directed the Officers from Power (E) department and PWD present at the site to frame out the fund requirements within a month to enable obtaining necessary sanctions from the government, sources disclosed.

The minister also called on the Commander 190 Mountain Brigade at the latter’s office and discussed issues relating to permitting foreign tourists to visit places of interest near forward locations of Army as is allowed to the domestic tourists in order to attract more foreign tourists to Tawang area. He also requested the Commander to explore the feasibilities of extending welfare schemes of Army particularly in the field of education to the civil population to gel the existing civil-army relations, sources added.