Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 112/17

YOUTH FESTIVAL

The Directorate of Health Services (MCH&FW), National Health Mission, Meghalaya in collaboration with the Meghalaya State Commission for Women and the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong organised a Youth Festival under the theme: “A smart teenager, for a bright future” on 18th February, 2017 at U Soso Tham Auditorium, Shillong. Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Shri F. R. Kharkongor graced the inaugural function as Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering, Shri F. R. Kharkongor said that the festival will act as a vital and effective platform for the youth to interact with each other and share issues relating to adolescent health. Stating that India has the largest population of adolescents in the world, Shri Kharkongor said, “we need to work hard and take advantage of this demographic dividend by way of investing in our young people, not just to make them skilled economic assets, but as confident, healthy well protected persons who can take charge of their own lives as well as of the society”. “But for young citizens to be healthy, responsible and active members of society, we need to ensure that the adolescents transit into adulthood in a protective and enabling environment. As adolescents flourish, so do communities, and all of us have a collective responsibility in ensuring that adolescence does in fact become an age of opportunity”, he said. Adding that social media has become a part of everyday’s activity in everyone’s life, Shri Kharkongor also stressed on the need of initiating an aggressive and effective campaign to address adolescent health issues and problems by means of social media. Besides open interactions with the experts and counsellors, the whole day festival included power point presentations on topics like ‘Importance of Nutrition for Adolescents’ ‘Reproductive and Sexual Health’, ‘Gender, Rights and Violence among Adolescent’ and ‘Cyber Crime and Social Media’. Chairperson, Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Smti M. Kharkongor, Director of Health Services (MI), Dr. R. O. Budnah, Director of Health Services (MCH&FW) cum Joint Mission Director, NHM, Dr. D. Lyngdoh, Joint Director of Health Services (MCH&FW) cum Nodal Officer RKSK, Dr. J. Lyngwa, Member, Meghalaya State Commission for Women, Smti N. G. Shylla, stakeholders, NGOs and representatives from various schools and localities were also present during the inaugural programme.