OUR CORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR: In the first of a series of pre-budget consultative meetings, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein along with Home Minister Bamang Felix on Tuesday held a detailed discussion with community-based organizations (CBOs) on the scope of Budget 2019-20, which is to be tabled in the forthcoming Assembly session scheduled in the first week of July.
Representatives of Arunachal Pradesh Women’s Welfare Society (APWWS) also attended the meeting to make the consultation all-inclusive.
Expressing gratitude to the CBO and women’s representatives, Khandu said this was his third meeting (since 2017) with them and pointed to a sea change in suggestions put forth by the members, a CMO release said. “I can notice a change in the mindset of our community leaders. Besides suggesting the way forward for their respective communities they are today concerned about the entire State and encouraging pan-Arunachal welfare and progress measures,” he pointed.
He stressed the significance of the roles that can be played by the CBOs in an extremely dynamic and multi-polar society like Arunachal Pradesh not only in successfully implementing welfare schemes but also in maintaining law and order.
“The roles of CBOs are of utmost significance. You are sanctioned by the community you represent to decide for them. The Government cannot function successfully without your support and cooperation,” he asserted.
The Chief Minister assured the representatives that each and every suggestion submitted by them will be minutely studied and accommodated in the budget as far as possible.
“This practice (of consultative meetings) is a new beginning in the right direction. We will see the results of today after 15-20 years, when we may not be in the position where we are today,” he said.
Chowna Mein termed the process of budget preparation as a ‘big exercise’ and appreciated the CBOs for their interest in helping the government in this mission. He informed, "This year’s budget would focus on road communication, education, health and agri-horti sectors."
Mein suggested doing away with individual-centric schemes saying, “We have to concentrate on issues and projects that benefit the society as a whole.”
Calling for suggestions and interventions by the CBOs in implementation of schemes and projects, the Deputy Chief Minister said that it was the age of transparency and therefore nothing is hidden from the public. On the other hand, Home Minister Bamang Felix requested assistance and cooperation from CBOs in "containing" the law-and-order situation in the State.
“Police can maintain law and order but the CBOs can contain law and order,” he said while informing the members about the 'Humara Arunachal Abhiyan', soon to be launched by the State Home department to create awareness amongst the masses to maintain law and order and contain criminal activities by community members.
“We will focus more on community policing as our government believes that unless community members are involved, maintaining law and order in an ethnically diverse society like ours is near impossible,” Felix added.