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Tura, October 29, 2025:
With an aim to empower and engage the youth of Meghalaya, the first Block Level Chief Minister’s Youth Engagement Programme 2025 was organised at the District Auditorium, Tura, on Wednesday. The event, organised by the District Sports Office, West Garo Hills, witnessed the enthusiastic participation of around 500 students representing 15 schools from across the district.

This CM-Youth Engagement Programme is an initiative designed to empower the youth of Meghalaya through cultural exposure, leadership, communication, development, heritage promotion and skill enhancement, nurturing them to become confident ambassadors of the Meghalaya at national and international platforms.

During the day-long event, a series of competitions were held including Painting, Declamation, Poetry Writing, Story Writing, and Guitar in the solo category, while Folk Song, Folk Dance, Quiz Competition, Innovation in Science & Technology, and Tug of War featured under the group category. Trophies were distributed to the winners of various competitions.

In the Quiz Competition, Nokrek Heights Higher Secondary School bagged the first prize, while Tura Government College secured the second position. Redemption Academy won the Tug of War, followed by Government Boys Higher Secondary School. The award for Innovation in Science & Technology went to St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School.

In the Folk Song category, Tura Government College took the first prize, with Redemption Academy coming second. St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School also won the Folk Dance competition, while Tura Government College took the runner-up position.

In the solo categories, Ankitha S. Sangma of Aeroville Higher Secondary School won first place in Poetry Writing, followed by Bimikchi D. Shira of PASF Abong Noga College. In Story Writing, Sarah Angel N. Marak of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School won first place, while Hazel Ripamchi R. Marak of Nokrek Heights School came second.

For Declamation, Ronggrik M. Sangma of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School secured the top position, with Marmibar K. Sangma of Nokrek Heights School taking second place. In Painting, the first prize went to Simmitchi R. Marak of St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School, and the second to Jaksram Ch. Marak of Aeroville Higher Secondary School. The Solo Guitar competition was won by Volgarian Ch. Sangma of Tura Government College, while Gamchatan Silgasak T. Sangma of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School was the runner-up.

Speaking on the occasion, District Sports Officer of West Garo Hills, Saljagring M. Marak, informed that the students who participated and won in the block-level programme will represent the Tura headquarters in the upcoming District Level Youth Engagement Programme scheduled for November 3, 2025, where participants from different blocks will compete. The winners from the district level will further advance to the state-level competition, and those selected at the state level will later represent Meghalaya at the national level where in future few best performing youths will be selected for international levels.

He further stated that such youth engagement programmes are very important and play a pivotal role in guiding the younger generation towards positive directions. “We see many youths nowadays walking in the wrong direction, and by providing such platforms, we can channel their energy towards constructive and meaningful paths,” he said.

“We were delighted to witness the enthusiasm of the students. When invitations were sent, youths from different schools responded eagerly and prepared for the competitions with great excitement and commitment,” added Marak.

DSO Marak further mentioned that the District Level Youth Engagement program is scheduled to be held on 3rd November 2025, where in the youths from different regions of Garo Hills will be participating in different competitive activities.