Shillong, July 12: As the curtains came down on the 4th Meghalaya Pineapple Festival at Dilli Haat on Sunday, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma delighted visitors by picking up the guitar and singing alongside young musicians from the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Programme (CM-MGMP), turning the festival finale into a celebration of Meghalaya’s vibrant cultural spirit.
Speaking during the performance, Sangma highlighted the government’s commitment to nurturing young talent through the CM-MGMP.
“We have a programme called the Meghalaya Grassroots Music Programme, and you will be happy to know that there are more than 7,000 artists in this programme. We have conducted over 38,000 shows. Today, when you go to Meghalaya, in different tourist spots and destinations, these young musicians will be right there performing for you. And we, the Government of Meghalaya, finance them to ensure that it not only helps their passion and talent grow, but also provides them a livelihood out of music, while giving visitors a glimpse of Meghalaya.”
The performance reflected Meghalaya’s unique approach to development where culture, tourism and livelihoods go hand in hand. Alongside celebrating the state’s world-renowned pineapples, the Festival also showcased the extraordinary talent of Meghalaya’s young musicians, reinforcing the Government’s vision of creating sustainable livelihood opportunities through the creative economy, said an official statement.
