Imphal, August 22: The seventh edition of North East National Service Scheme (NSS) Festival 2014 kicked started at the auditorium of Khuman Lampak sports complex Imphal Friday with state PHED Minister I. Hemochandra as Chief guest and YAS Commissioner Dr. RK Nimai as president. The festival is sponsored by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India and hosted by department of Youth Affairs and sports, Manipur.
Delegates from seven sister states of North east – Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya and Manipur are taking part in the festival which will conclude onAugust 25. Cultural programmes from different state delegates marked the opening day. Academic sessions and field visits would also be conducted during the four days long festival. Manipur is hosting such a grand festival of the North east for second time.
Earlier, PHED Minister I. Hemochandra inaugurated the Auditorium of Khuman Lampak sports complex.
Addressing the gathering, Minister I. Hemochandra said that India’s north East region is a beautiful place brimming with many captivating tourists spots and unexplored sports talents in specified sports disciplines. Youths of North east states have talents which need to be nurtured and tapped for bringing the nation towards development.
Stating that National service scheme is a platform for students to learn social responsibility, exposure of talents, he said that students should be committed to dedicate for the cause of the nation when they get matured. Organising such a grand festival in the region will help bring together all the youths of North east region to know each other better and work together for development of the region.
National service scheme which is being taught as a subject in colleges and higher secondary schools in Manipur was under the purview of state education department. However, it was transferred from the Education Department to the Youth Affairs and Sports Department in the year 1980. The state has more than 16,000 NSS volunteers so far.
