Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said Thursday that to encourage the budding talents of the state, the government is introducing the ‘Achiever Award’ from this year, for which a provision of Rs 1 crore has been kept in the budget. Attending the Luminous Lummer Dai Literary Award ceremony here, organised on the occasion of the 83rd birth anniversary of Lummer Dai by the Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society (APLS), Mein highlighted the government’s active role in reviving the stories of the state’s unsung heroes and restoring the folklores of the state pertaining to the various indigenous communities.

The deputy chief minister praised the literary contributions of Dai and stressed the importance of promoting literature and education in the state. He also highlighted the achievements of individuals from various sectors, including sports, education, and business, who brought laurels to the state.

Born on June 1, 1940, Dai was a renowned literary icon in the state who made significant contributions to the field of literature. His debut novel, ‘Paharor Xile Xile’ is the first novel written by an Arunachalee. After his demise in 2002, the Assam Sahitya Sabha and the APLS have been honouring his lifetime contributions through various awards and celebrations, and the Luminous Lummer Dai Literary Award is one of the most prominent ones.

Mein later handed over this year’s award to Jumsi Siram, who has also remained a recipient of the Vishwa Hindi Samman since the 12th World Hindi Conference in Nadi, Fiji. Mein also released the latest edition of ‘Pravas’, the only literary magazine in Arunachal Pradesh, along with three other books. The event was also attended by APLS President Y D Thongchi, Itanagar Smart City Development Corp. CEO Dahey Sangno, Assam Publicity Board Secretary Pramod Kalita, Cultural Affairs Secretary Tai Kaye, and Sahitya Akademi Awardee Mamang Dai, among others.