SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma kicked off the two-day A’we Winter Festival of North Garo Hills at Resubelpara in the presence of the former Chief Minister and Chairman, State Planning Board, Salseng C. Marak and other dignitaries on Friday.
He also simultaneously distributed PC tablets to class XII students under the Chief Minister’s Students Digital Learning Aid Scheme and inaugurated the newly constructed Multi- Facility Centre at Mendipathar.
Delivering the inaugural speech, the Chief Minister lauded the district administration for integrating various programmes under IBDLP and Mission Green with the Winter Festival and asked the district to continue the programmes upto the festive season of Christmas.
“The pleasant climate of the region and the way Christmas is celebrated in Garo Hills is very exclusive, therefore we can make Garo Hills a tourist destination this time of the year”, he said.
He said that his government has earmarked dedicated funds for organizing winter festivals annually to create a platform for showcasing multitude of local talents where ideas can be shared and learned.
As such, the government spends rupees five crore every year through the respective Art and Culture Societies in the districts, he said, adding that such festivals should be held in a hub-and-spoke model with number of events in different blocks and villages and culminating with a grand festival in the district capitals.
Deliberating on the Mission Organic program of the government, the Chief Minister said that the State has been blessed with abundance of nature, but we have spoiled them with artificial interventions. He also announced a reward for any village that can convert itself to a fully organic village.
He also informed that Mission Greenis, a holistic approach of the State government for maintaining clean and green environment, the concept of which has been adopted by the Union government in Swachh Bharat Mission and called upon every village to have Clean & Green clubs.
He also commended the North Garo Hills region for having the highest number of clubs registered and also urged the district to activate all dormant clubs and use them for the purpose.
The Chief Minister also informed the gathering about Mission Football, a new initiative of the government to promote sporting talents and export football players from the State in future.
Former Chief Minister and SPB Chairman, Salseng C. Marak expressed his appreciation for Dr. Sangma’s innovative ideas of having such festivals in every district and hoped that the positive things happening in the district can pave the way for better future for the people particularly the youth.
Earlier in the morning, a marathon run was held under Clean & Green Campaign as part of the festival. Other highlights on the opening day of the festival included the industrial exhibition, distribution of awards to the best three clubs under Youthful North Garo Hills contest, Gure Rodila ritual which is practiced in A’we-Chisak area of Garo Hills,beach events on the banks of Damring river and A’we Queen beauty pageant in the evening.