Arunachal Deputy CM Chowna Mein Announces UPSC Coaching Sponsorship for Tai Ahom Students

NAMSAI — In a major boost to youth empowerment and higher education in the region, Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein has announced a new educational support initiative for the Tai Ahom community. Speaking at a felicitation programme organized by the All Tai Ahom Students' Union (ATASU) Namsai District Committee, Mein revealed that five meritorious students from the Tai Ahom community will be sponsored for free civil services coaching at the UPSC coaching centre in Namsai. The facility is currently operated by the Tai Khamti Students Union. Transforming the Educational Landscape Addressing a gathering of students, parents, and community leaders at the Multipurpose Cultural Hall, the Deputy Chief Minister reflected on the massive strides the state has made in infrastructure. The Past: Mein recalled his own student days when higher education options were incredibly scarce, with Jawaharlal Nehru College in Pasighat standing as the lone institution in the state. Students routinely faced severe connectivity and infrastructure hurdles to study outside Arunachal. The Present: He emphasized that the educational landscape has completely transformed, offering modern infrastructure and vast opportunities for higher learning right at home. "Academic scores alone do not determine a person's future. Perseverance, dedication, and a clear sense of purpose are equally important in overcoming challenges and realizing one's aspirations." — Chau Zingnu Namchoom, Namsai MLA & Advisor A Call for Cultural Unity Beyond academics, the event—themed “Honouring Excellence, Preserving Heritage, Inspiring Future Generations”—focused heavily on cultural preservation. Mein expressed growing concern over the gradual loss of traditional vocabulary, customs, and practices among youth. He stressed the importance of safeguarding the linguistic and ancestral heritage of the six Tai communities of Northeast India: Tai Ahom, Tai Khamti, Tai Phake,Tai Aiton, Tai Khamyang, Tai Turung While celebrating the distinct identity of each group, the Deputy Chief Minister called for stronger cultural unity rooted in their shared Tai civilization to ensure future generations stay connected to their history. Local leaders also used the platform to urge the youth to maintain strict discipline, focus on lifelong learning, and completely stay away from drugs and other social evils.