Agatha Sangma plays green activist to CCpur students
Source: The Sangai Express / S Sanglianmang Guite

Lamka, October 19 2009: Assuming the role of a green activist, Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Agatha Sangma, today urged the youngsters to look for a profession that is environmentally friendly as she graced the silver jubilee celebration of Lalpuiphluaii Foundation School here.

Attending the celebration solely because the invitation was sent to her, as she confided, and emotionally charged, the young MP from Tura in Meghalaya was here to grace the anniversary celebration of one of the best institutions in the district.

The plain tribal woman, yet a Union Minister, was greeted with a grand reception as she landed at the district, with a whooping thirty one items from the students, mostly traditional ones which preceded her address to the gathering.

Visibly impressed with the connection the students have with their traditional roots, as they showcased dances ranging from KhambaThoibi to the familiar 'Phit Laam' of the tribals, the charismatic Minister of State said she could be the only one from the region who cannot dance and sing.

"Probably I am the only person from North-east who can't dance and sing,' she said, though adding that she was learning to do so.

Also taken aback by the connection the students showed with their traditional values during the celebration, Agatha encouraged them to remain so and also carry them forward.

Agatha Sangma at the Silver Jubilee celebration of Lalpuiphluaii Foundation School seen with the Principal Vunglallian

And on turning an environmentalist, something she claimed was a personal decision, whenever she has the chance to interact with the youths, Agatha, herself one of the youth icons of the country, said protecting the environment is the responsibility of the youth.

Two important responsibilities the youths of today shoulder, according to her, was one's habit with regard to the environment and adopting an eco-friendly profession when one decides what he/she wants to adopt as a profession.

Agatha also talked of the potential of the North Eastern youths and promised her bit in nurturing them.

'We (people in the North-east) have a huge potential and if these potentials were streamlined in the right way we can scale great heights,' she said and added that the youths have always wanted a positive change in the country.

Besides inaugurating an exhibition of the Rural Development Department, the Union Minister of State for Rural Development also unveiled a jubilee stone and souvenir of the school.

Another interesting point of today's celebration was the turn-out, which included the erstwhile college friends of the Principal, Sir Vunglallian and well wishers from as far as the United States.

Atul Bagai, IAS from UNEP Bangkok; Rahul Bedi, an eminent journalist; Rita Paul from New Delhi; V Dongzathang, former Commissioner Income Tax Tribunal and his Commissioner son Vumlunmang Vualnam; Jacintha Lazarus, DC/CCpur were among the personalities in attendance.