By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: North-East is often projected as a constant turmoil-driven region of the country. However, with active cooperation and exchanging of culture and traditions amongst the youth, this mis-conception could be done away with, thereby bridging the gap of mis-communication between the north east and mainland India, observed urban affairs minister Ampareen Lyngdoh.
“There are several barriers that disconnect us from the rest of the country and this barrier could only be removed through constant cooperation and communication amongst the people of this diverse country”, Lyngdoh said.
Lyngdoh was addressing the valedictory function of the inter-State youth exchange programme and Home stay. A programme of the ministry of sport and youth affairs, Government of India, organised by the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) and NSS regional unit at Shillong College here on Friday.
Calling upon the NSS volunteers from 8 states of the country who participated in this programme, the urban affairs minister said, “We in Meghalaya would like to show you that we are willing learners and I call upon you, the youth to carry across the message that we are a peace loving community.” Stating that the youth are the future of the country, Lyngdoh said the country depends on responsible youth who would lend a helping hand in building a strong nation and it is for every youth to put upon themselves, the need to grow and develop for a better tomorrow.
The week-long programme has benefitted the NSS volunteers coming from other parts of the country to experience the culture and the life style of the people of the state, she added.
Sharing his experience on the week-long stay in Shillong, a volunteer from Rajasthan said “The journey though short-lived, yet we get to learn a lot about this state and its people, their hospitality and loving nature and this has once and for all cleared my perception I use to have towards this region.”
Meanwhile, faculty head of the RGNIYD Dr K Shekhar said the scope of this programme is to open an opportunities for the youth to explore the beauty and diversity of our nation at the same time, to learn and respect each other’s culture and tradition. “We need to get over the stereotype tagged for north east because without north east, our country is not beautiful and its diversity is not complete”, he said.
On the same note, North Eastern Council (NEC) Director of human resource development and Employment (HRD&E) Sherry Lalthangzo urged upon the youth to be the torch bearers of the country and they should stand united and lend their hand together to build this country and take it forward till the world reckon our country.
Over 200 volunteers from over 8 states arrived in Shillong to participate in a 10-day stay in Meghalaya. The states included Kerela, Karnataka, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.
The aims and objectives of this programme and Home Stay included personality development, to imbibe the value of national and emotional integration, to appreciate others traditional and cultural heritage, to learn their different life style, language, culture and historical values, to understand the family life situation, a nucleus of the society and to know the geographical economic, social and cultural characteristics.