Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Mukut Mithi has urged the State’s people to revitalise their traditional values, which have bound them through ages.

Speaking at the Podibarbi festival at Monigong and Mechuka areas in West Siang district Mr. Mithi said, "In an age of cultural cross-current, it is imperative that the present generation should infuse traditional values in them which have given them a distinct identity."

"There’s a need to preserve the indigenous traditions and work on pragmatic line to stop invasion of alien culture in the tribal society which may plague the society in the long run," the Chief Minister said and added that the cultural barriers should be uprooted to offer unity in diversity.

"The State falls in the lowest order in the overall development index in terms of communication, power and revenue generation. More than 80 per cent of the fund are spend on non-plan expenditure and the rest are utilised for development which is not adequate," he informed.

Under the decentralised process of planning, an amount of Rs 20 lakh is placed at the disposal of each MLA as Local Area Development Fund while Rs one crore was kept under the State Planning Committee, he said.

Further decentralisation of power at the grassroots level would come up after the Panchayat polls in the State slated for mid-February next, he added.

The Chief Minister further stated that after formation of the local self-governance, the burden of each MLA would be lessened and it would shape the rural economy in the right perspective.