Arunachal Deputy CM Chowna Mein bats for reopening historic Stilwell Road

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Sunday stressed the need for reopening the historic Stilwell Road, saying that the road will deepen the age-old cultural linkage and will help in promoting spiritual tourism between Indian and South East Asia.

Participating at the Oriah festival of the Wancho community here, Mein said that the State government would form a committee on ‘Stillwell Road Development’, and would appeal the Centre for prioritizing the restoration of this road by both India and Myanmar, as it would be mutually beneficial for both sides.

Terming the North East region as the gateway to the ASEAN countries, the Deputy Chief Minister said that reopening of the Stilwell Road or Ledo Road would ease travel and cut distance for people living on either side of the area and would also act as catalyst for cross-border trade.

Mein further said that India’s Act East Policy is on the lines of improving people-to-people contact which is fundamentally envisaged for building socio-cultural relations, increasing trade ties, promoting tourism and developing the economic scenario of the South East Asian region through outreach initiatives.

He also raised the issues related to the creation of infrastructure and better development of the border areas in the State to curb migration from the border villages.

“There is every possibility for Arunachal Pradesh to become the fruit bowl of country and the State has also the potential to become one of the tourist hotspots in India. But the need of the hour is to explore means to utilize these natural resources to our advantage for attracting more tourists,” he added.

“Arunachal Pradesh is a land of many tribes; and each and every tribe has their own distinct cultural identity,” the Deputy Chief Minister said while calling upon the youths for promotion, preservation and protection of their age-old tradition and culture.

He added that it is during such festivals that the tribal communities can showcase their rich cultural heritage and traditions which they have inherited from their forefathers.

“I must commend the Wancho community for jealously preserving and protecting their rich cultural heritage despite the challenges of modernization and western influence,” he added.

Mein informed that the State government is providing every possible support for the protection, preservation and promotion of the indigenous tribal cultures which is dwindling away day by day.

Chowna Mein has been personally advocating the preservation of the age-old practiced traditional systems and rituals in the digital form or in the documentation.

He further informed that the Government would provide every possible support to every tribe for carrying out research and documentation work to safeguard their cultures and traditions.

Pointing out that the traditional healing system of the Idu-Mishmis is in the verge of completion, he informed that the Government had provided some funds to the research department last year to make documentation of the system.

The Deputy Chief Minister also urged the youths to shun consumption of drugs and opium while asking them to take responsibility for developing the society.

“The State government has launched many subsidized schemes,” Mein informed and appealed to the youths to take full benefits of the Government-subsidized schemes for starting new entrepreneurship and to make themselves self-reliable and making them job providers instead of job seekers.

Various colourful dances mesmerized the audience but the warrior dance of Pongchau village was the showstopper of the celebration.

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