The All Nyishi Students’ Union (ANSU) has announced a 48-hour bandh across seven Nyishi-inhabited districts of Arunachal Pradesh from September 28 if the state government fails to address its demands related to education infrastructure and facilities.
ANSU president Ashok Doka announced the next phase of the agitation on September 24 after the students’ body observed a 12-hour bandh in the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR). The union said it would intensify the protest if the government does not take concrete steps on the issues it has raised.
ANSU expands agitation beyond Itanagar
The proposed 48-hour bandh follows the 12-hour shutdown held across the ICR on September 24. The earlier protest affected normal life in Itanagar and Naharlagun, with government offices, schools, banks and shops remaining closed during the bandh hours. Vehicular movement was also affected.
ANSU said the latest decision reflects its dissatisfaction with the progress made on its education-related demands. The organisation has maintained that several concerns involving schools, teachers and higher education institutions in Nyishi-inhabited areas remain unresolved.
The union has warned that the September 28 action will cover seven Nyishi-inhabited districts if the government does not address the issues by the deadline.
56 schools among key demands
Improvement of government school infrastructure remains one of ANSU’s main demands. The students’ body has sought renovation and upgradation of 56 identified schools across the seven Nyishi-inhabited districts.
The union has also raised concerns about teacher deployment and has called for subject-specific teachers currently attached to administrative offices to return to classrooms. ANSU has argued that addressing teacher shortages is necessary to improve learning conditions in government schools.
Another major demand involves the Government Engineering College at Toru in Papum Pare district. ANSU has called for the early commencement of classes at the institution.
The students’ body has also demanded the establishment of a dedicated school for children with special needs in Pakke-Kessang district. In addition, it has raised issues concerning Late Neelam Taram Government College at Yachuli.
Talks with government fail to resolve deadlock
The bandh announcement came after discussions between ANSU representatives and state government officials failed to resolve the dispute.
Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona met representatives of the students’ union on September 22. The government urged ANSU to reconsider its agitation and highlighted steps being taken on some of the infrastructure-related demands.
According to reports, several infrastructure proposals have already moved through the government process. These include requirements such as hostels, academic buildings, staff quarters and boundary walls. The government has said that other proposals will be examined based on funding availability and possible convergence with existing schemes.
Despite these assurances, ANSU has maintained that the measures taken so far do not adequately address its concerns.
Government describes bandh as a concern
Chief Minister Pema Khandu has described the bandh over education demands as unfortunate and invited the students’ union for further discussions. He said education remains a priority for the state government and pointed to ongoing efforts to improve educational infrastructure.
The administration also took a firm position during the September 24 shutdown. Authorities had issued restrictions in the capital region, citing concerns over disruption to public services, businesses and daily life.
The bandh nevertheless went ahead. The Arunachal Times reported that a scooter and a car were reportedly burnt during the shutdown, although ANSU president Ashok Doka said the union’s volunteers were not involved in violence or arson.
Seven districts face possible shutdown
The proposed 48-hour bandh would widen the agitation from the capital region to the broader Nyishi belt. ANSU has said that the action will continue unless the government addresses its demands related to school infrastructure, teacher deployment and higher education.
The union’s announcement also comes with a warning of further escalation. Doka has indicated that the organisation could move towards another phase of agitation if its concerns remain unresolved.
For the state government, the immediate challenge is to continue discussions with ANSU while ensuring that education-related concerns receive attention. For the students’ organisation, the September 28 deadline marks the next stage of its campaign for improvements across educational institutions in the Nyishi-inhabited areas.
The situation is expected to remain closely watched as the deadline approaches, with further talks potentially determining whether the proposed 48-hour bandh goes ahead.