Tura, March 31, 2026: In a collaborative camp, the NSS PG Unit and Department of Agribusiness Management and Food Technology (ABMFT) of NEHU Tura Campus in association with William Initiative Schools, West Garo Hills and Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA), West Garo Hills organized Health and Career Camp in Ballonggre Village, South West Garo Hills, on March 28, 2026.

Themed, “Swasth Yuva, Sashakt Yuva,” the programme was designed to bridge the gap between education and rural realities by focusing on health awareness, child nutrition, and career guidance. The camp successfully drew the participation of over 200 children, students, parents, and local community members.

The event opened with a prayer led by Rev. Maxfield R Marak, Pastor, Ballonggre Baptist Church, followed by a welcome address from Dr Gino A. Sangma, who underscored the need to connect education with real-world opportunities. He stressed that children from rural backgrounds require the right guidance and exposure to compete across diverse fields. Prof. Deepak Bhagat, Programme Officer of the NSS PG Unit and Head of ABMFT, highlighted the broader role of NSS in community development, noting that such initiatives help take academic knowledge beyond classrooms and into grassroots communities. Mrs. Tangringchi S. Momin, a lecturer at Tura Polytechnic, emphasized the importance of balanced diets in early childhood and encouraged parents to incorporate locally available, nutritious foods into their meals.

Mr. V. Valentine Hembrom, DPM-MBDA/Megha LAMP, West Garo Hills led a counseling session urging students to look beyond traditional careers and explore opportunities that align with their strengths and local surroundings.

The event featured vibrant cultural performances by students from Petrichor Pre-School and Liberty Valley Academy, while NSS volunteers distributed tracksuits to participating children. Students from NEHU’s ABMFT department carried out basic health evaluations by measuring the height and weight of participants to calculate their Body Mass Index (BMI).

The initiative was praised by Village Nokma Nonsing Ch. Marak, who encouraged families to take full advantage of such developmental programmes. Organisers noted that the camp reflects an ongoing effort to take academic knowledge beyond the classroom, providing essential support to regions where access to career guidance and nutritional awareness is limited.

The event concluded with highly positive feedback from parents, marking it as a meaningful step toward youth empowerment.