Pasighat, Oct. 16 -- Veteran pharmacist and social worker Ume Perme, who served remote and underserved communities in Arunachal Pradesh for two decades, died at his native New Borguli village in East Siang district at around 4 am on Thursday following a prolonged illness. He was 77.

Perme joined government service as a pharmacist on January 12, 1972, when Arunachal Pradesh was still known as the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA). He retired on February 1, 1992, after serving in several remote areas, including the Indo-China border region.

Born on December 30, 1948, to Gumin Perme and Yamoni Perme, he was originally named Umeshwar Perme. He grew up in Borguli village and studied at the present-day Government Higher Secondary School in Me...