GANGTOK, (IPR): Chief Minister Prem Singh
Tamang attended the concluding day of the 8th North East Youth Festival 2025 as
the chief guest at Paljor Stadium today.
The four day long youth
festival which began from March 17 concluded today.
The North East Youth Festival
in India is an annual gathering of youth with various competitive and
collaborative activities. The event is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary
of youth icon Swami Vivekananda. This year the event took place in Sikkim with
a theme of “Empowered Youth, Empowered Region – My Bharat, Viksit Bharat."
Over 1500 participants from North East took part in the festival.
The festival was organised by
the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, in collaboration
with the Sports and Youth Affairs Department of the Government of Sikkim, the
National Service Scheme and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS).
In his keynote address, the Chief
Minister expressed his privilege in participating in a vibrant event such as
the North East Youth Festival 2025. He commended the dynamic leadership of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has facilitated the holistic development of
the North East region, moving closer to India's envisioned development by 2047.
Additionally, the Chief
Minister highlighted various sectors that have progressed under the Central government,
including education, skill development, and the AI and robotics industry.
Emphasizing youth empowerment, he noted the State Government's focus on
entrepreneurship development to promote Sikkim's products beyond State
boundaries. The Chief Minister also acknowledged the Government of Sikkim's
commitment to nurturing regional athletes and artistic talent.
Regarding the eco tourism sector,
the Chief Minister discussed the opportunities it presents, given the region's
breathtaking natural beauty. He also underscored the significance of various
festivals in the North East, such as the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland and
Sakewa in Sikkim, which draw thousands of tourists, promoting the preservation
of cultural and traditional values.
The Chief Minister expressed
full confidence in the youth of the North East, believing they will advance
India's transformation towards a global leadership position by 2047, as
envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In his concluding remarks, the
Chief Minister extended gratitude to the Minister of State for her gracious
visit to the State and expressed appreciation to the Union Minister of the
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for her message to the youth participating
in the festival. He also thanked the secretary of the Sports and Youth Affairs department,
along with other officers and officials involved in making the event a success.
Furthermore, the Chief Minister
urged the youth to cultivate strong ties between the North Eastern states and
to foster a spirit of unity within the region. Following this, the Chief
Minister declared the festival officially closed.
The Minister of State for Youth
Affairs and Sports, Raksha Nikhil Khadse Prasad, congratulated the state on the
successful event. She emphasised the importance of promoting such youth
festivals to facilitate the development of the North Eastern region.
In her address, the Minister of
State commended the initiatives undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to
empower the youth of the North Eastern region, discussing programmes like NSS,
NYKS, and Youth Parliament, which aim to unite youth for meaningful reflection.
She highlighted the contributions of the North Eastern States to India’s
development and expressed hope for continued progress in the future.
State Sports and Youth Affairs
minister Raju Basnet praised Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang for his youth-centric
governance, attributing the successful hosting of this significant event to his
leadership. The minister asserted that youth empowerment will stem from the
provision of suitable education and opportunities, identifying connectivity,
entrepreneurship development, and infrastructure improvement as key factors for
regional empowerment.
Raju Basnet expressed gratitude
towards the Central government for its focus on the North Eastern States,
reinforcing the aim of making India a superpower by 2047.
Yangchen D.Tamang, secretary of
the State Sports and Youth Affairs department, provided a brief report on the
activities conducted over the past four days. She emphasised the importance of
the event in strengthening the bonds of friendship among the youth of the North
East region, stating that it offered a unique opportunity for participants to
embody the festival's theme of Vikshit Bharat.
The secretary extended her best
wishes to all participants and encouraged them to embrace the wisdom and
friendships cultivated throughout the festival. In her closing remarks, she
expressed hope for future events of similar magnitude in Sikkim.
The event featured martial arts
demonstrations by participants from Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim and
Tripura, followed by a traditional Yak dance performed by local artists.
During the proceedings, a
message from Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, was
screened for the attendees.
During the course of the event, participating states were awarded certificates and cash prizes based on their performances in various competitions. The top three positions in the competitions were as follows:
North East Youth Festival Folk
Dance Competition:
1st- Mizoram
2nd- Manipur
3rd- Sikkim
North East Youth Festival Folk
Song Competition:
1st- Arunachal Pradesh
2nd- Nagaland
3rd- Manipur
North East Youth Festival War
of Bands:
1st- Sikkim
2nd- Meghalaya
3rd- Mizoram
North East Youth Festival
Instrumental Solo Guitar Competition:
1st- Megahalaya
2nd- Arunachal Pradesh
3rd- Manipur
North East Youth Festival One
Act Play Competition:
1st- Tripura
2nd- Sikkim
3rd- Mizoram
North East Youth Festival Quiz
Competition:
1st- Nagaland
2nd- Sikkim
3rd- Manipur
North East Youth Festival Food
Stall (All India Competition):
1st- Assam and Mizoram
2nd- Nagaland and Arunachal
Pradesh
3rd- Manipur and West Bengal
