Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu. “TRACTION 2026 is not merely a filmmaking challenge. It is a platform to tell the authentic stories of Arunachal Pradesh to the world.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu. | Chief Minister Pema Khandu said the first-of-its-kind initiative, supported by the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME), seeks to promote tourism, culture, creativity, traditional knowledge systems, indigenous products, and the MSME sector through digital storytelling.He launched TRACTION 2026: Residency and Film Challenge, a portal for creative visual content, from his office in the State capital, Itanagar, on Monday (June 15, 2026).The Ministry of MSME is supporting the initiative under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance scheme in collaboration with the State Department of Industries and the Centre for Cultural Research and Documentation at Rajiv Gandhi University.“TRACTION 2026 is not merely a filmmaking challenge. It is a platform to tell the authentic stories of Arunachal Pradesh to the world. Through the creative lens of content creators and filmmakers, our rich cultural heritage, unique traditions, adventure tourism destinations, GI-tagged products, handicrafts, handmade paper, and MSME success stories can reach a global audience,” Mr. Khandu said.Highlighting the importance of the digital economy and the growing influence of social media in shaping public perceptions and consumer choices, the Chief Minister said the initiative would empower aspiring filmmakers, vloggers, and content creators from across the Northeast to become the region’s cultural and economic ambassadors.He further said visual storytelling has emerged as one of the most effective mediums for promoting destinations and preserving cultural narratives. Through authentic and engaging content, creators can help project the true image of Arunachal Pradesh while raising awareness of its tourism potential, local enterprises, and indigenous products.Nyato Dukam, the State’s Industries Minister, emphasised the transformative potential of the initiative in promoting Arunachal Pradesh’s tourism and cultural assets by bringing together government institutions, academia, cultural organisations, and content creators.“Arunachal Pradesh possesses a diverse range of cultural traditions, indigenous practices, crafts, cuisines, and tourism destinations that can attract national and global attention when presented through compelling visual narratives,” he said. Published - June 16, 2026 02:57 pm IST
The District Planning Office (DPO) has initiated steps to implement a set of grassroots-level development projects based on the District Plan, a comprehensive document outlining guidelines for devising and implementing various development programmes. As a first step, the DPO will convene a meeting of all departments in the district on Monday (June 8, 2026) to discuss and decide on projects that can be implemented in local bodies across the district, officials said.The District Plan, a data-based document running into hundreds of pages, was compiled across districts towards the end of the tenure of the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. In Ernakulam, the document was prepared by compiling recommendations from 29 sub-committees comprising officials from various sectors. It was drafted following a series of meetings and development seminars held over nearly a year. The document has been prepared as a roadmap for the next five years.“Monday’s meeting is scheduled to discuss a few projects that local bodies in the district should undertake in the ongoing financial year. The departments concerned will guide the local bodies on how to implement the projects and raise funds,” a district official said.Besides officials from various departments, the district panchayat president and the District Collector will also attend the meeting.The official said the departments could either suggest projects already included in the District Plan or propose new ones during the discussions. The projects to be selected on a priority basis could be from key sectors such as agriculture, SC/ST development, and social justice, the official added.Another official said the current District Plan, the second such document prepared after it was introduced across the State in 2017, would be implemented after taking into consideration the shortcomings in the execution of the previous plan. A key aim of drafting the guideline document was to prevent duplication of projects planned by State departments and local bodies. Published - June 07, 2026 08:41 pm IST
Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, MP handing over his representation on tourism development projects for Mysuru and Kodagu, to Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Mysuru. | In his first representation, the MP sought the appointment of a Project Management Consultant (PMC) to facilitate technical approval for the development of Arjuna Circle (LIC Junction) in Mysuru. The project, which has already received a grant of ₹20 crore from the Union Ministry of Tourism, aims to establish a grand memorial in honour of Arjuna, the celebrated elephant that carried the golden howdah during the world-famous Mysuru Dasara celebrations.Mr. Wadiyar said Arjuna, who led the Dasara procession and carried the golden howdah from 2012 to 2019, continues to hold a special place in the hearts of people across Mysuru and neighbouring districts. The proposed memorial would be a fitting tribute, especially as the junction is one of the city’s key gateways and the traditional culmination point of the historic Dasara procession. A detailed project report covering design, architecture, traffic management, landscaping and implementation has already been prepared, he informed.In a separate proposal, the MP sought Central assistance for the conservation, restoration and modernisation of the historic Madikeri Fort in Kodagu. The project envisages the scientific preservation of heritage structures, establishment of a modern museum, installation of digital information systems and multilingual audio guides, introduction of a sound-and-light show, development of eco-friendly pedestrian pathways, and improvement of parking and public amenities.Mr. Wadiyar said the two projects would not only preserve valuable heritage assets, but also boost tourism, generate employment opportunities and contribute to the local economies of Mysuru and Kodagu. He urged the Ministry to undertake the necessary assessments and extend financial support under relevant tourism and heritage development schemes.The MP said efforts would continue to preserve and promote the region’s rich cultural legacy for future generations. Published - June 06, 2026 07:22 pm IST
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