By our reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 27: On Republic Day, the Seng Samla Umpling (Umpling Youth Organisation) felicitated the youth living within the Dorbar Shnong Umpling who achieved academic excellence. They also feted two young residents – Shanbor Warjri who passed the Meghalaya Civil Service and is currently the Additional Deputy Commissioner and Queenie Fancon who cleared the Meghalaya Police Service and is currently the Additional SP, East Khasi Hills. Others who have completed their PhD were also felicitated. This was followed by a felicitation of those securing high marks in graduation, HSSLC, and SSLC. Those securing high marks also received cash awards.
Present at the function as chief guest were the CEM, KHADC, Pyniaid Sing Syiem, and MDC of Laitumkhrah, Fantin Lakadong and guest of honour, D Syiemlieh.
Addressing the gathering, Rangbah Shnong Umpling, SF Pyngrope lauded those who had brought honour to themselves and their families by winning laurels and said Umpling was fortunate to have such achievers. He also applauded the Seng Samla Umpling for the initiative to hold such a meaningful function.
The CEM, KHADC who was also for a short while the MLA of Mawryngkneng under which Umpling also falls, praised the Seng Samla Umpling for stressing academic achievements. He informed the gathering that he had done a study and found that annually there are over 60,000 graduates who are ready for the job market but only about 2000 jobs are created in the government sector. “What about the rest 58,000 who are also looking for jobs? The moral here is that our youth have to know their aptitude and find new openings in sports, music, entertainment and to become entrepreneurs who will create jobs and employ others instead of becoming only job seekers,” Syiem adding that Umpling provides that opportunity, especially in sports since it has the infrastructure for indoor and outdoor games and multipurpose sporting activities.
Syiem further exhorted the youth to launch a collective war against drugs against drugs. He also shared how he met with fruit winemakers from the State in Delhi and how the visitors from France lauded the initiative of the winemakers. Ruing the fact that Meghalaya has not produced any IAS officer in the last 12 years, Syiem said anyone who desires to sit for the UPSC and has single-minded devotion to attend coaching classes should approach him for sponsorship. He said he had sponsored one young man for coaching. ‘If the State is to be run by our people then we have to support them for quality coaching,” Syiem said. He also commented that the programme at Umpling was small but meaningful and urged the Seng Samla Umpling to lend their might and collaborate in the effort to effectively manage solid waste and to clean up the river passing through their shnong. Making an impassioned plea, to the youth and women’s organisations in the shnong, Syiem said, “Let’s come forward to clean up our rivers. Most of the rivers are no longer alive; let’s revive them and give our best to the next generation.”