Date: Mar 19, 2025
Shillong, March 19, 2025: Two days District-Level Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament Festival 2025 kickstarted at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong on March 18th, 2025, at the Golden Jubilee Auditorium, NEHU. The event organised by North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong witnessed an enthusiastic participation of more than 140 registered students from the East Khasi Hills and Eastern West Khasi Hills districts.
The inaugural function was graced by Shri. Rudi V. Warjri, IFS (Retd.) as the Chief Guest, while Shri F. Rumnong, State NSS Officer, attended as the Guest of Honour. Prof. K. Debbarma, Department of Political Science, presented the university’s remarks on the significance of the event. The program commenced with a warm welcome by Prof. Nongkhlaw, who introduced the dignitaries and highlighted the objectives of the festival.
Prof. R. L. Nongkhlaw, Dean Students Welfare emphasized that the Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2025 provides a unique platform for young participants to cultivate leadership skills, enhance public speaking abilities, and contribute to national development. He informed that 20 outstanding participants from this district-level event would proceed to the state-level competition, and winners at the state level would earn the opportunity to represent Meghalaya at the national event in the Parliament of India, New Delhi.
Addressing the gathering, Guest of Honour Shri F. Rumnong elaborated on the initiative’s alignment with the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, a transformative agenda launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to empower one lakh young leaders across the nation. He highlighted that the festival serves as a platform for youth to deliberate on governance, economy, national security, and social progress, contributing towards a developed, inclusive, and sustainable India. Encouraging the participants, he urged them to engage actively and develop innovative solutions for national growth and progress.
Chief Guest Shri Rudi V. Warjri commended the initiative and remarked that today’s youth are fortunate to have such opportunities that nurture their leadership potential. He emphasized the significance of public speaking as a skill that fosters awareness, confidence, and critical thinking. Sharing his experiences in Parliament, he praised the debating skills of great leaders such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Jawaharlal Nehru, and G.G. Swell, who, despite political differences, upheld a high standard of parliamentary discourse. He encouraged students to use this platform to build confidence, develop communication skills, and aspire to leadership roles in politics, society, or academia.
Prof. K. Debbarma of Political Science at NEHU reiterated that Viksit Bharat 2047 is a vision to mark India’s centenary of independence by making the nation self-reliant and developed in all sectors. He stressed the crucial role of youth in nation-building, stating that they are not only agents of change but also beneficiaries of progress. He highlighted that platforms like the Youth Parliament help young individuals actively participate in democracy and shape the country's future.
The two-day festival will conclude on 19th March 2025 with spirited debates, discussions, and thought-provoking presentations by the participants. The selected students will advance to the state-level competition, carrying forward the vision of a Viksit Bharat led by dynamic and visionary young leaders.
2025, North-Eastern Hill University
Designed & developed at Bioinformatics Centre, NEHU
