SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Saturday led from the front the hundreds participating in Songkristan or Community Christmas Dance organized by the United Movement for Youth (UMY) at Selsella in West Garo Hills.
The Chief Minister along with Power Minister Clement Marak and Chairperson of Meghalaya Resource Mobilization & Employment Generation Council, Dikkanchi D. Shira led the Songkristan dancers who came from over 30 villages of Selsella and beyond with a song.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said, “The Songkristan is an exclusive and unique way of celebrating Christmas in Garo Hills which is not found in any other part of the world and needs to be preserved and promoted.”
The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of the UMY, a movement initiated by the Church leaders of Selsella comprising of various Christian denominations to build up the society through the youths, to foster in them the dignity
of work, love for peace and society, to make them aware of the facilities and opportunities being given by the government and also to give them vocational training and guidance.
District officials and church leaders were also present on the occasion.
Lauding the UMY for its efforts, the Chief Minister urged the movement to organize the event on a grander scale next year.
Sangma also emphasized on the need to analyse the different abilities and talents of the youth and said that various programmes of the government were meant to facilitate the youths to be self-reliant and to be able to contribute to the society positively.
Rs 78 cr sanctioned for sports infrastructure development
Stating that the government’s endeavor is to focus on promoting sports to enable the young boys and girls to unleash their talents, the Chief Minister informed that the government has sanctioned Rs 78 crore for all 39 blocks for development of sports infrastructure.
Artificial turf to be laid in Selsella
He also said that there were many good football players in the area and promised the gathering that sanction would be made soon for an artificial turf in Selsella. The chief minister also urged upon the youth to look out for alternative means of livelihood beyond government jobs and take the opportunities being given to them.
Speaking on other developmental programmes of the government, he informed that construction of National Highway-27(D) through Selsella has just been approved.
“But in order to really develop our economy, we all have to be agriculturists and horticulturists,” he said and urged upon the people of the area to make use of the vast stretches of land available for all kinds of farming activities.
On the occasion, the Movement also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister appealing for government support for its various activities for the youth.