CM flags off NER car rally as part of NCC’s 75th anniversary celebrations

SHILLONG:

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma flagged off the NCC’s Northeastern Region Car Rally at U Soso Tham Auditorium, in the city on November 6 to mark the 75^th anniversary of the National Cadet Corps (NCC).

Speaking at the event, the chief minister said, “I would like to thank and congratulate the NCC in their tireless efforts in nation building through character building and personality development and instilling core values of patriotism in our youth for the past 75 years. The initiative of a car rally is significant and meaningful as it provides our youth an opportunity to meet people from other regions. This in turn would expose them to different types of people belonging to various occupations, culture, language and ethnicity and in turn would bring in national integration, unity, understanding and respect for one another. I also thank Maruti Suzuki for sponsoring this event and would love to see this rally not just confined to the Northeastern region but also give a chance to our youth to explore other parts of India as a whole.
Sangma further highlighted various government-funded programmes for the youth including YESS Meghalaya which provides financial support up to Rs 1 lakh to young people.

He also mentioned the Meghalaya Grassroots Music Programme, which provides financial support and gives opportunity to the local young music artistes to perform at various locations including important tourist landmarks, cafes, restaurants and important events throughout the state.

Sangma also said that the youth are the greatest resource as the nation has a large young population. He also emphasised that if the energy of the youth is channeled correctly, they can be a force to be reckoned with.

The rally consists of 12 Maruti Suzuki Jimny vehicles sponsored by Maruti Suzuki and these would traverse through all the states of the North East except for Manipur due to its security reasons and eventually end at Guwahati on NCC Day.

The event is a culmination of a collaboration of NCC and a diverse, enthusiastic collective group consisting of 277 schools, 151 colleges from 44 districts spanning six states. The main aim of the car rally is to foster camaraderie among the youth, inspire them towards leadership, and instill a deep sense of patriotism. The celebration is to personify unity, leadership, and patriotism, which are all in the spirit of NCC’s values.

The event was also attended by Metbah Lyngdoh, Chairman of Meghalaya State Planning Board, Major General Gagan Deep, ADG, NCC Directorate Northeastern Region, Ram Suresh Akella, Executive Director of Marketing, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, Commissioner Secretary, Director General of Meghalaya Police, Deputy Commissioner East Khasi Hills and officials of the armed forces as well of the state government.