New Delhi/Itanagar, June 17 (IANS) Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik (Retd.) held detailed discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on a wide range of issues, including law and order, internal security, border management, infrastructure development, drug trafficking, geospatial applications and the strengthening of the cooperative movement in the northeastern state, officials said on Wednesday.

A Raj Bhavan official said that the Governor met the Union Home Minister and discussed matters relating to law and order, internal security, border area development, the application of geospatial technologies and various initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperative institutions in Arunachal Pradesh.

During the meeting, Lt Gen Parnaik (Retd.) shared his assessment of the prevailing law and order situation in the state and briefed the Home Minister on recent developments concerning security and border management.

The Governor highlighted the strategic importance of the Tirap, Changlang and Longding (TCL) region and discussed ongoing efforts to strengthen security infrastructure in the sensitive border areas.

He also elaborated on measures being undertaken to improve border management, including the installation of border fencing and the enhancement of surveillance mechanisms to ensure greater security and vigilance.

The Governor drew the Union Home Minister’s attention to the growing menace of drug trafficking and substance abuse in the state, which, he noted, is being fuelled by narcotics originating from across international borders and transiting through neighbouring states before entering Arunachal Pradesh.

Emphasising the serious social and developmental consequences of the drug menace, Lt Gen Parnaik said that substance abuse is adversely affecting the youth, disrupting social harmony and posing a challenge to the state’s long-term development.

He stressed the need for sustained, coordinated and multi-agency action involving all stakeholders to effectively curb drug trafficking and prevent substance abuse.

The Governor also underscored the urgent need to equip and skill the youth in geospatial applications and emerging technologies.

He said that greater use of geospatial tools would not only improve governance and administrative efficiency but also create opportunities for surveying, analysing and monitoring land-related issues.

According to the Governor, geospatial technologies can play a crucial role in addressing several developmental and security challenges, including tracking and preventing the circulation of narcotics, facilitating disaster management, monitoring infrastructure projects and improving planning and implementation processes across sectors.

On the cooperative front, Lt Gen Parnaik apprised the Union Home Minister of various initiatives being undertaken by the state government and other agencies to strengthen the cooperative movement in Arunachal Pradesh.

He highlighted ongoing efforts to promote cooperative societies as effective instruments of inclusive growth, livelihood generation and rural prosperity, particularly in remote and underserved regions of the state.

Stressing the immense potential of cooperatives in empowering farmers, women, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and rural entrepreneurs, the Governor observed that a vibrant and well-functioning cooperative ecosystem can play a transformative role in enhancing household incomes, generating employment opportunities and fostering self-reliant village economies across Arunachal Pradesh.

The meeting also focused on exploring ways to further strengthen institutional support mechanisms for cooperatives and leverage their potential in achieving sustainable socio-economic development in the frontier state.

–IANS

sc/pgh