Governor J.J. Singh addresses the state Assembly on Thursday. Telegraph picture

Itanagar, March 18: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen. (retd) J.J Singh today said the state government was laying utmost emphasis on social justice and security of the people of the Himalayan state.

Addressing the budget session of the Assembly on its opening day, he said the government had prioritised basic issues like healthcare, education and communication and added that the Dorjee Khandu government had set in motion the process of providing “clean, efficient, transparent and people-friendly administration”.

He also said the state government would give a thrust to tourism, agriculture and horticulture sectors to tap the potential.

Highlighting the achievements of the state government, he said, “The government has always given highest priority to the maintenance of law and order in the state. The law and order situation remained normal during the year. Fifty-one cadres of various underground organisations surrendered in Tirap district last year and it is perhaps the highest ever in any single district of the country. The government is actively considering the adoption of a surrender policy to inspire even more misguided youths to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream.”

He said the government was committed to ensuring maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the state, to break free the state from social injustice, ill-health and inequality and promote education amongst all, especially the girl child.

Speaking on the hydro-power potential of Arunachal Pradesh, Singh said the state was poised to generate 56,000MW hydropower.

The state government allotted land for various hydropower developers to generate almost 34,800MW hydropower.

Healthcare is one of the thrust areas of the government.

Under the national programme for Control of Blindness, 1,172 cataract operations have been conducted till December 2009 and 14,235 schoolchildren have been screened for vision-related tests.

An Intensive Pulse Polio immunisation campaign has also been conducted in the state and 3,38,910 doses have been given to children below the age of five years.

Till December 2009, 3,744 pregnant women have benefited under the Janani Suraksha Yojana, Singh added.

The opening day of the five-day session also saw the introduction of eight bills, which included the Arunachal Pradesh Education Bill and the Arunachal Pradesh Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill, 2010.