Itanagar, Apr 7: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday announced that his government will begin financially supporting the inter-college youth festival from next year onwards.
The chief minister made this announcement while attending the inaugural ceremony of the three-day XIII inter-college youth festival at Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) at Doimukh, near here.
Highlighting the significance of such events, Khandu said, “These festivals are not merely a celebration of arts, culture, and sports, they reflect our unity in diversity, a spirit of collaboration, and our collective aspirations.”
The chief minister endorsed the idea of organising the festival in two stages from next year, starting with zonal-level competitions among affiliated colleges, with the top performers progressing to the university-level event at RGU, an official communiqué informed.
Responding to a memorandum submitted by the RGU students' body, Khandu informed that he has already forwarded a scanned copy to the state education commissioner and directed consultations with university authorities on the issues raised.
He assured personal follow-up with the central government, since RGU is a central university. For matters falling within the state government’s jurisdiction, he promised swift and positive resolution.
Recalling his first visit to RGU as chief minister eight years ago, Khandu noted that the student strength then was around 2,500.
“I was surprised to learn that the university now serves around 5,700 students,” he said.
Acknowledging the urgent need for improved hostel facilities, the chief minister announced that a new hostel building with a capacity of at least 2,000 students will be sanctioned within this financial year.
Additionally, as president of the Arunachal Pradesh Football Association, he assured the establishment of a futsal ground on campus.
Khandu congratulated RGU for securing the first prize for ‘Best Practices’ at the East Zone Vice Chancellors’ conference of the Association of Indian Universities held in March last.
The recognition was based on the achievements of RGU’s centre for Endangered Languages under the Arunachal Institute of Tribal Studies, its implementation of the National Education Policy, green and sustainable energy initiatives, and transparency audits, outperforming over 100 state and central universities.
“RGU holds a unique and crucial place in the development of higher education in the state. As the premier institution, it is responsible for not only academic excellence but also for contributing to the socio-economic development of the region,” he pointed out.
Emphasising the government's commitment to education, Khandu announced that over the next three financial years, the state will implement transformative changes aimed at improving education quality, infrastructure, and opportunities for students.
“Arunachal Pradesh is blessed with an unparalleled wealth of talent and a unique cultural heritage. Our youth are the leaders, innovators, artists, and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. It is our collective responsibility to nurture their potential and empower them to take our state to new heights,” he said.
He added that the state government is making every effort to provide the environment, infrastructure, and opportunities for youth to excel in sports, arts, and academics.
