The Creative Arts, Literature and Music (CALM) festival co-organised by a local bookstore and the East Khasi Hills Arts & Cultural Society was launched with great fanfare on Wednesday. Noted writers, poets, photo-journalists and veteran journalists have converged in Shillong. There is a buzz in the air. The venue of the event – the Aurobindo Institute of Indian Culture with its lush greenery and serene atmosphere seems like the perfect ambiance. The Government owned Soso Tham auditorium seems to be in a perpetual state of repair leaving the state capital with just that single private auditorium. The other state of the art auditorium at Rilbong seems destined to become the permanent legislative assembly building. This also informs us of the pace of development in Meghalaya.
Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma says that the Government has put in sufficient funds for the promotion of arts, music and literature in the State. The aim is to hone the talent of youth in the above fields. There can be no two views on this. Meghalaya needs to invest more in youth activities which include sports and mental and intellectual pursuits. With about 35% of Meghalaya’s population under the age of 25 years it is incumbent on the Government to plan out a nuanced development agenda keeping in mind the needs and aspirations of youth. But planning alone does not help. Implementation is paramount. And in this the bureaucracy as the implementing arm of the government plays a major role. The best schemes can come a cropper if implementation is skewed. The Meghalaya Institute of Governance (MIG) has come up precisely to train young people in different skills so that they become employable. The Institute also aims at training members of traditional institutions in the art of better governance. Institutions such as the MIG ought to be used and strengthened and not become Government-owned institutions. Youth today is at the cross-roads as there are fewer options in the traditional occupations such as government employment. They will need to find their niche in other newer avenues. The least Government can do is show them a better way.