Kohima, June 14 (MExN): Nagaland State Governor, PB Acharya held a press conference in Kohima today and spoke on the initiatives for the Puroik community of Arunachal Pradesh.
The Governor, who met the Puroik community at Papu Nallah, Arunachal Pradesh on March 5 this year, mentioned that agreements were made to create a corpus fund of Rs. 2 lakhs where the yearly interest will be used as financial incentives to the outstanding students of the community.
Seeing the pitiable condition of the Puroik community and considering their history of being bonded labourers, Acharya expressed that though Arunachal Pradesh attained Statehood on February 20, 1987 “it is unfortunate that they have suffered slavery and were legally freed and made equal citizens by the Hon’ble Supreme in 1994 and the two High Power Committee constituted in 1998 and 2011.”
Governor urged the members of the Puroik community to enrol themselves in Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Suraksha Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, and other Central and State Government’s welfare schemes, while advising the student leaders to create awareness on the various welfare schemes of the State and Central Government.
The Governor also informed that the Alva’s Education Foundation at Moodubidirie in Udupi, Karnataka, under the aegis of Indian National Fellowship Centre (INFC), Mumbai, has agreed to sponsor 4 students from the Puroik community for free General Nursing course.
INFC Mumbai has also agreed to sponsor an Educational, Emotional cum Integration Home Stay in Mumbai and Pune/ Goa from June 4 to 16, it was informed.
In the XI session of Sixth Legislative Assembly, Arunachal Pradesh on March 6, the Governor highlighted to constitute the Autonomous Puroik Welfare Board which was taken up by the Arunachal Chief Minister after the Assembly. Finally, the Board was constituted by the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Tribal Affairs, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh vide order No. SW-0419/2011 dated May 8, 2017.
A meeting with the Deputy Commissioners in the Puroik community i.e, Kurung Kumey, Kra–Daadi, East Kameng, West Kameng, Papum Pare and Itanagar Capital Complex was held on May 12 at Raj Bhavan, Itanagar to gather ideas and visions to develop the Puroik community.
