An orientation cum meeting of Northeast youth and student leaders was on Wednesday held at the Don Bosco Navjeevan Society in Chandigarh.
The meeting was held to discuss the forthcoming celebration of fifth North East Youth Fest (NEYF).
In all 24 youth leaders representing all the eight north-eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Tripura participated in the meet.
It was initiated by Don Bosco Youth Centre (DBYC), Itanagar in collaboration with the Don Bosco Navjeevan Society.
While briefing the participants about the origin and aim of organizing the NEYF at Chandigarh, DBYC director Rev Fr Cyriac spoke how some unfortunate incidents that took place in the lives of Northeast youth has inspired DBYC to rise to the occasion.
“NEYF should not be just another festival, but it should be an educative, entertaining and morally good activity which should bring changes in the lives of all,” said Fr Cyriac.
He added the Fest was not organized to execute a project or a scheme.
He also spoke about how the Fest has grown year-by-year and how Arunachal Pradesh chief minister, Pema Khandu supported the event in a big way.
He said Khandu stepped in when Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Chandigarh found it difficult to support the event.
Fr Cyriac further called upon the core team to organize the event with minimum funds, but effectively and to the satisfaction of all participants.
He added that the process involved in organizing the event is as important as the event itself as the process is educative and makes future leaders.
He exhorted the leaders to make a paradigm shift in leadership style and go the Mahatma Gandhi way in keeping up with the Mahatma’s 150th birth anniversary coming up this year.
Rev Fr Regi, director, Don Bosco Navjeevan Society, who is also the partner and coordinator of NEYF led the leaders in discussion and finalization of the details of the Fest.
He also suggested having at least one state-wise meeting to finalize the role of each State in the Fest.
An open discussion then followed in which the young leaders worked out the modalities of organizing NEYF 2019 with the theme ‘Peaceful India, Progressive India’ (Shant Bharat, Samridh Bharat).
The theme was chosen especially keeping in mind the Mahathma’s 150th birth anniversary.
All other logistics of the Fest was also discussed and the date for the fest was fixed for November 12 at St Stephen’s School, Sector 45 Chandigarh.
NEYF Chandigarh 2019 will be a mix of sessions on the theme and discussion of matters which have importance to Northeast youth by eminent personalities.
Cultural songs and dances and a cultural costume show, showcasing the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the Northeast and its people have also been included in the agenda.