Former Arunachal minister dead

Former Arunachal Pradesh minister Niani Natung died in a city hospital at Guwahati after a brief illness, official sources said today.
Niani Natung (51) died yesterday.
Hailing from Pakke-Kessang assembly constituency in East Kameng district, she became the first lady minister from Nyishi community after the demise of her husband Dera Natung, then Education Minister, in a helicopter crash near Sessa in West Kameng district on May 8, 2001.
Survived by two sons and two daughters, Natung was inducted as Minister of State for Social Welfare, Women and Child Development after winning the Pakke-Kessang seat in the bye-election held on September 20, 2001.

Besides being an AICC member, she was holding the post of vice president of Arunachal Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee at the time of her passing away.
Previously, she held the post of chairperson, State Social Welfare Board.

Meanwhile, Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma and Chief Minister Nabam Tuki led the people of the state to mourn the death of the former minister.
The governor in his condolence message said that in Natung's death, the state has lost an admired and dedicated social worker.
While mourning her demise, Chief Minister Tuki remembered her as a simple and honest woman, and an able partner of her late husband Dera Natung, who was one of the most dynamic and visionary ministers witnessed by Arunachal.

He also offered his condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed that they be bestowed with enough strength to bear the irreparable loss.
The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) and the BJP also condoled the death of Natung.