Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Wednesday, 14 October announced that inter-state boundary disputes involving 123 villages along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border had been largely resolved, crediting the progress to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The development marks a significant milestone in one of India's longest-running inter-state territorial disputes.

Key Developments on Border Resolution

Khandu specifically noted that 31 of the 32 disputed areas in Papum Pare district had been settled following recent joint field visits by regional committees. The Assam-Arunachal Pradesh inter-state boundary stretches over 804 km, and the two states have been engaged for years in structured efforts to resolve long-pending territorial disagreements. The Chief Minister added that work on other outstanding matters, including the Chakma question, was also progressing, with public announcements to follow at an appropriate time.

Donyi Polo Multipurpose Hall Inaugurated

On the same day, Khandu inaugurated the Donyi Polo Multipurpose Hall at the Galo Heritage Centre in Tarajuli, near Naharlagun, describing the facility as a landmark of community participation and cultural resolve. He noted that the Mopin ground at Naharlagun, in continuous use since 1976, had been voluntarily handed over by the Galo community to make way for the state's first medical college — the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS).

Skill Development and Work Culture

Urging society to place equal dignity on all forms of labour, Khandu called for local youth to be trained in construction, electrical, and plumbing trades to reduce the state's dependence on outside skilled workers. He cited the example of a batch of 50 youths trained at the National Skill Centre in Hyderabad, who subsequently executed a project in Pasighat for ₹10 lakh against an outside quotation of ₹18 lakh — a saving that illustrated the concrete value of local skilling.

Identity, Culture, and the Road to 2047

Warning that Arunachal Pradesh's tribal populations are small in the national context, Khandu said identity is at risk if language and tradition are not actively preserved. He urged communities to take ownership of their heritage rather than rely solely on government policy. Touching on technology, he encouraged residents to treat artificial intelligence and machine learning as tools rather than masters, and to prepare for AI's impact on jobs without surrendering age-old culture.

Highlighting a decade of governance milestones, the Chief Minister noted that more than 1.5 lakh women are organised across more than 16,000 self-help groups, and that nearly 46% of startups in the state are women-led. He also referenced 20 GI-tagged Arunachal products, support for indigenous Gurukul schools, and high-powered committees addressing Scheduled Tribe safeguards, the Inner Line Permit framework, and illegal infiltration.

With Arunachal Pradesh set to complete 40 years of statehood on 20 February 2027, Khandu invited every community to reflect on the journey to 2047, urging young people to remain proud of their roots while staying confident in a rapidly changing world.