Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday stressed the need to comprehensively develop Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts bordering Myanmar to increase entrepreneurship so that people don't deviate from the mainstream.
Such efforts will go a long way in addressing acute poverty and lack of employment in these districts, the Chief Minister told a review meeting here to discuss India-Myanmar border issues chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Khandu said a significant portion of the population was engaged in illegal opium production and trade which had to be tackled aggressively with a two-pronged strategy of de-addiction centres and skill development centres.
Since the terrain of Tirap, Changlang and Longding region was good for cash crops, the Spice Board of India and Krishi Vigyan Kendra should be advised to open their offices in the three districts, he said.
Khandu said the Arunachal Pradesh government had prepared a proposal of around Rs 985 crore as a fresh special package for Tirap, Changlang and Longding and requested the Home Ministry to consider the proposal favourably.
He also called for steps to prevent migration from the border areas and sought central assistances for rapid economic development of the border areas.
--IANS
rrk/mr
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