By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 19: A two-day district-level Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament Festival 2025 kick-started at NEHU here on Tuesday.
The event organised by the university witnessed the enthusiastic participation of more than 140 registered students from the East Khasi Hills and Eastern West Khasi Hills districts.
The two-day festival will allow participants to benefit from spirited debates, discussions, and thought-provoking presentations.
The selected students will advance to the state-level competition, carrying forward the vision of a Viksit Bharat led by dynamic and visionary young leaders.
Chief Guest Rudi V Warjri, IFS (Retd.) commended the initiative and remarked that today’s youth are fortunate to have such opportunities that nurture their leadership potential. Sharing his experiences in Parliament, he praised the debating skills of great leaders such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Jawaharlal Nehru, and GG Swell, who, despite political differences, upheld a high standard of parliamentary discourse.
Prof. R L Nongkhlaw, Dean of Students Welfare informed that 20 outstanding participants from the district-level event would proceed to the state-level competition, and winners at the state level would earn the opportunity to represent Meghalaya at the national event in the Parliament of India, New Delhi.
Prof. K Debbarma of Political Science at NEHU reiterated that Viksit Bharat 2047 is a vision to mark India’s centenary of independence by making the nation self-reliant and developed in all sectors. He stressed the crucial role of youth in nation-building, stating that they are not only agents of change but also beneficiaries of progress. He highlighted that platforms like the Youth Parliament help young individuals actively participate in democracy and shape the country’s future.