ANSU bandh plans have intensified in Arunachal Pradesh, with the All Nyishi Students’ Union announcing a 48-hour shutdown across seven Nyishi-inhabited districts from September 28. The move follows the organisation’s continuing campaign over education infrastructure and related demands.
The announcement comes shortly after ANSU enforced a 12-hour bandh in the Itanagar Capital Region on September 24. The latest action signals that the dispute over education facilities remains unresolved despite recent talks between the student body and the state government.
ANSU bandh expands after Itanagar shutdown
The proposed ANSU bandh from September 28 comes after the organisation pressed its demands through a seven-day ultimatum to the Education Department. ANSU had sought action on infrastructure gaps identified in schools located in Nyishi-inhabited areas.
The September 24 shutdown focused on several education-related issues. These included the renovation and upgradation of 56 identified schools, a dedicated special-needs school in Pakke Kessang, and concerns linked to Toru Engineering College and Late Neelam Taram Government College at Yachuli.
ANSU’s latest decision extends the agitation beyond the capital region. The 48-hour programme is scheduled to begin on September 28 and cover seven Nyishi districts, according to the organisation’s announcement.
Education demands remain at the centre
The ANSU bandh centres on concerns about school infrastructure and facilities. The students’ body has argued that several institutions require improvements to provide students with better learning conditions.
The demands include action on the schools identified by ANSU through its assessment of education infrastructure. The organisation has also raised concerns about higher education facilities and institutions serving students in Nyishi-dominated areas.
Moreover, ANSU has sought action concerning a special-needs school in Pakke Kessang. It has also raised issues relating to Toru Engineering College and the proposed B.Ed. courses at Late Neelam Taram Government College, Yachuli.
Government says work is already under way
The state government has maintained that it has started action on several issues raised by ANSU. Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona met ANSU representatives on September 22 and urged them to reconsider the bandh.
According to the Education Department, infrastructure proposals have already moved to the Planning and Investment Department. The government said more than half of 26 identified infrastructure requirements were either ready or at an advanced stage of implementation.
The requirements include facilities such as hostels, undergraduate blocks, staff quarters and boundary walls. The minister said remaining requirements would undergo examination based on funding and possible convergence with existing schemes.
Administration takes a firm position
The September 24 ANSU bandh also exposed a sharp difference between the student organisation and the administration over the use of shutdowns as a form of protest.
Itanagar Capital Region District Magistrate Toko Babu declared the September 24 bandh illegal and unlawful under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. The administration cited possible disruption to public life, businesses, patients and daily-wage workers, along with law-and-order concerns.
Despite the order, ANSU proceeded with the shutdown, affecting vehicular movement across parts of the capital region. Police deployed personnel at sensitive locations, while emergency movement remained a priority.
Seven districts await next phase
The new ANSU bandh puts the education dispute on a wider regional footing. The seven-district shutdown is expected to draw attention to infrastructure concerns beyond Itanagar and place renewed pressure on the government to address the organisation’s demands.
Meanwhile, the government has stressed dialogue and said it has already initiated several measures. ANSU’s decision to proceed with another 48-hour shutdown shows that the student body wants further action and clearer progress on its demands.
The developments now leave both sides facing the need to address the education concerns while managing the impact of the proposed shutdown on students, businesses, transport and essential services.
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