SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has claimed that his government has, for the last few years, been giving maximum allocation of funds to the agriculture sector.
Speaking at the Seventy Drums Wangala Festival at Rongsanggre in Bollonggitok under Betasing Block in South West Garo Hills on Thursday, the chief minister said 80 per cent of the State’s population is dependent on agriculture and hence the government allocated more funds to the sector.
“The songs and dances performed in the festival reflect our way of life, our culture, which is agriculture,” he said while adding, “the youths in the villages tend to abandon this inherent part of our culture once they get little education.”
He stressed the need for educated farmers to take up farming in a more viable and sustainable manner as it is the only approach through which people can progress and prosper.
The chief minister also reiterated the need to revive the traditional and moral values that used to be an intrinsic part of Garo culture and said such values should be instilled in youth and children to ensure they become responsible citizens in the society.
He congratulated the organizers for their efforts to preserve and promote the cultural heritage and urged upon all the local leaders of the area to come together to make this event bigger in the years to come.
Local MDC Sadiya Rani Sangma also addressed the gathering.
Later, the chief minister along with Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh, MDCs Stevie M. Marak and Righteous Sangma and Betasing BDO Albert G. Momin joined the Wangala troupes in the final dance accompanied by the beating of 70 drums.
This Wangala Festival is being organized in the area since the past few years beginning with 50 drums. This year seven troupes from the district participated in the two day event.
