Centre and Arunachal Pradesh Ink Special Development Pact for Siang Region

Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, September 15, 2025 : The Central government and the state of Arunachal Pradesh today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement a special development package for the strategically important Siang region. This pact is a significant step toward improving infrastructure and generating livelihoods in the frontier state, particularly in the Siang and Upper Siang districts. The initiative is being undertaken as a pre-investment activity for the proposed Upper Siang Multipurpose Project (SUMP), a mega hydroelectric and water storage project that has been a subject of strategic discussion for years. The move is also seen as a direct response to China's mega dam projects on the Brahmaputra River, which have raised concerns in India about the potential for altered water flows and flood risk. The development package focuses on multiple intervention areas, including the creation of new infrastructure, livelihood activities for local communities, and the upgrading of existing assets. The plan includes a special emphasis on marketing and branding local products, such as textiles, bamboo-based goods, and indigenous crafts. The government will establish common facility centers, craft-based resource centers, marketing hubs, and urban haats to help artisans reach wider markets. These measures are designed to not only uplift the local economy but also to empower indigenous communities. In a separate development, the state's Education Department has issued an urgent directive to all district education officials to immediately relieve and transfer teachers who have been assigned to new posts. The move comes after reports of non-compliance, with many teachers allegedly unwilling to leave their current postings. The directive warns of strict action against defaulting officials and districts, highlighting the administration's resolve to streamline its educational workforce and improve efficiency. The government's dual focus on strategic, large-scale projects and administrative reforms underscores its commitment to the holistic development of Arunachal Pradesh.