Arunachal Pradesh deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Wednesday graced the second convocation of Arunachal University of Studies as the chief guest.
Speaking on the occasion Mein said Namsai district has been advancing with regards to administration while emphasizing that connectivity was prerequisite for ushering in further development.
Namsai has emerged as a hotbed of education, he said while adding that healthcare sector needed improvement.
He also said the Arunachal University of Studies has one of the most beautiful infrastructures and that it was imparting quality education and proving to be a quality educational hub.
Mein congratulated noted educationist and social reformer from Thailand, Thanapat Choompolsil, who was conferred honorary doctorate degree terming it as having received it at the right time when North-east India and Thailand has been making a marked increase in furthering relationships.
He also congratulated Anshu Jamsenpa, the other recipient of the honorary doctorate degree and Tine Mena, another mountaineer from the region to scale Mount Everest, who was conferred with Young Achievers Award terming the duo as symbols of women empowerment and torch bearers of women folk.
Mein also called upon the director of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) who was also a guest at the function to spread the activities of ICAR in the State for advancement of agri-horti sector.
The Deputy Chief Minister also expressed concern over the rise in drugs abuse in the region and appealed to the youths to spearhead the fight to contain the menace.
He also lamented that the Khamti society which has its own script was once very advanced, but today is lagging behind in every field.
Mein also presented the honorary doctorate degrees and the gold medals to the achievers.
Namsai legislator who is also the Parliamentary Secretary of Planning and Investments, Administrative Reforms and Training, Chow Zingnu Namchoom termed the day as historic and congratulated the recipients of both honorary and regular degrees.
He said the stature of the university has gone global with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Maejo University and Chiangmai University of Thailand.
He said that the world is open for all but each one must strive hard to succeed in conquering it.
The Arunachal University of Studies had also conferred honorary doctorate degrees to Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju, apart from Anshu and Choompolsil from Thailand.
In her speech, the world record holder mountaineer and five times Mt Everest summiteer, Anshu extended her sincere thanks and gratitude to the board of directors of the University for considering her worthy of the honorary doctorate degree for her world record achievement in the field of mountaineering and adventure sports.
She said mountaineering came late in her life but it came as a blessing which was like rediscovering herself all over again.
Speaking of her experience she further said that in spite of hardships she never gave up nor did she stop and added that many times ‘we fail but we should not lose hope’.
Later in the evening, Mein accompanied by Namchoom also attended the Me-Dam-Me-Phi function of Tai Ahom community at Rongali Beel along with guests from Thailand.
Speaking at the event, he expressed the need for Tai Ahom resurgence while commending Society for Tai Ahom Resurgence (STAR) which is spearheading for revival of the unique age old culture and traditions.
He urged all the Tai groups to unite as a single family and called upon the upcoming generation to take forward the rich legacy.