Mai Dol

Itanagar, Apr 4: The second day of Arunachal Youth Parliament 2.0 took place at the DK Convention Hall of the Legislative Assembly. It featured structured discussions led by students from across the state. Hills Society organised the event in partnership with the state Department of Youth Affairs.

Officer on Special Duty to the Minister of Education, RWD, Parliamentary Affairs, Tourism, and Library, Pema Norbu Thongchi was present as the chief guest. President of the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists, Amar Sangno, was present as guest of honour. The event was hosted by Dr Leeyir Ete.

Thongchi praised the participants for their articulate discussions on critical state issues, stating, “Programs like AYP reaffirm the government’s unwavering faith in its youth and its deep concern for their future. Platforms such as this allow you to address the challenges you face and actively participate in the state’s development process.”

He urged the students to dive into “hot and burning” topics, offering constructive suggestions and criticism and emphasized their role as “positive agents of change” in steering Arunachal toward prosperity.

He urged the youths to be part of the solution, appraising societal matters and contributing to holistic development.

Sangno struck a chord with his motivational speech, encouraging students to embrace change and explore new horizons.

“Our youths must look beyond the conventional pursuit of government jobs, skill themselves as per modern demands, and take up the mantle of business and commerce in sectors where local participation is scarce,” he said.

Sangno hailed AYP as a vital forum for democratic dialogue, where ideas, controversies, corruption, and other pressing issues come to life, empowering young minds to hone their skills and emerge as future leaders.

He stressed personal accountability in tackling unemployment and urged students to dig deeper for truth, resist the sway of social media narratives, and shoulder their responsibilities in a young nation like India.

Presentations on a range of policy and social issues marked the event, with ten institutions scheduled to participate. Of these, eight institutions made prepared presentations on various themes.

Don Bosco College, Jollang, discussed the socio-economic impacts of drug abuse and community-based responses, while Himalayan University spoke on the role of social media in shaping youth engagement.

Jarbom Gamlin Government Law College addressed the influence and impact of student politics, and NIT Arunachal focused on skill development and entrepreneurship in local contexts.

NERIST highlighted current challenges in agriculture and horticulture, and the NERIST Research Scholars’ Association presented on the importance of traditional values and cultural preservation.

Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) offered alternative approaches to measuring development, and the RGU Research Scholars’ Forum discussed measures for transparency and anti-corruption.

Rajiv Gandhi Government Polytechnic spoke on youth involvement in governance and decision-making. Government College, Doimukh, and Women’s College, Lekhi, were scheduled to participate but did not.

The presentations were evaluated by a panel comprising Dr Cremona Taku, research scholar at the Department of Social Work, RGU; Dr Chukhu Anam, Dr Lalita Taniang, and Dr Taba Yami from the Arunachal Institute of Tribal Studies, RGU; Dr Dumo Lollen, assistant professor of Commerce at Himalayan University; and Nun Pertin, secretary of Debate and Symposium, AAPSU.

Recognition and awards were presented at the end of the event.

Ganko Miso from Jarbom Gamlin Government Law College was adjudged Best Speaker, receiving a trophy, Rs 5,000, and a citation. Miso was also named Most Promising Youth, earning an additional Rs 2,000 and a citation. Doli Ori from Dera Natung Government College won Best Discussion Leader, while Anya Sari from Don Bosco College was awarded Best Rebuttal. Vanshika Marwaha from NIT Arunachal was named First Runner-Up Speaker, and Kangkinam Taggu and Sumnya Wangsu from Don Bosco College were declared Second Runner-Up Speakers. In the institutional awards, Don Bosco College, Jollang, was declared Best Presenting Institute and received a trophy, Rs 20,000, and a citation, while Jarbom Gamlin Government Law College was named Runner-Up Institute with a trophy, Rs 15,000, and a citation. Special jury recognitions were also given for Best Innovative Idea, Upcoming Youth Leader, Best Attendance Institute, and a Consolation Award.

A selection of the most well-researched presentations will be compiled and published in a book carrying an ISBN. The volume will be distributed to public institutions and college libraries in Arunachal Pradesh as a documented reference of student contributions.

In his closing remarks, Dr Prem Taba, convenor of the Youth Parliament, thanked all participants and promised the return of the initiative next year.

“We witnessed the future of Arunachal in these young voices. We’ll meet again in Youth Parliament 3.0,” he said.