UDAAN Fest: CM highlights power of education and creativity

PAKYONG,  (IPR): Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay attended UDAAN- The Flight of Creativity, an inter-school scholastic festival at SMIT Majhitar today.

UDAAN is an interschool day-long scholastic festival, with Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay serving as the chief patron.

The annual event is organised by the Rotary Club of Gangtok and the Inner Wheel Club of Gangtok, which aims to provide a platform for students from both government and private schools across the State, including those in rural and urban areas, to come together and engage in academic and creative activities.

The ceremony also had the presence of Minister of Education, Sports & Youth Affairs, Law and Parliamentary Affairs department, Raju Basnett; MLA Sanjeet Kharel; Political Secretary to CM, Jacob Khaling; Additional Political Secretary to CM, Tshering Wangchuk Lepcha; Deputy Mayor, Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Tshering Palden Bhutia; chairman of Students Welfare Board, Chopel Sherpa; secretary Education department, Tashi Chopel; DC Pakyong, Rohan Agawane; Sr SP Pakyong, Paru Ruchal; director cum in-charge SMIT, Dr Sangita Jha; SDM Rangpo, Sujata Subba, officials from various departments, along with teachers and students from different schools.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister highlighted the importance of education, creativity and perseverance in shaping the future of the younger generation.

Speaking at the event organised by the Inner Wheel Club Sikkim and Rotary Club Sikkim, the Chief Minister congratulated the organisers for consistently hosting Udaan – The Flight of Creativity since 2011 and stated that it has become a remarkable platform to nurture the talents of students beyond classrooms and textbooks.

He then expressed delight over the participation of nearly 1,800 students from 120 schools across the State and emphasised that such festivals inspire students to showcase their potential through competitions like quizzes, spell bees, creative writing to poster making, mono-acts and group dance.

Urging students to remain resilient in the face of challenges, the Chief Minister reflected on the struggles of past generations and noted that earlier students lacked resources, digital tools and career guidance. He further called upon schools to regularly introduce career counselling sessions to better guide students in today’s era of limitless opportunities.

The Chief Minister stressed on key initiatives undertaken by the State government to support education and empower the younger generation, including the Chief Minister’s Education Assistance Scheme (CMEAS), NB Bhandari Fellowship Programme, APATAN Fellowship Programme, Q&I Learning platform and Fellowships programmes for PhD research.

He also added that financial aid for professional courses such as MBBS, pilot training and engineering is being provided to students from humble backgrounds, with the motive to leave no student from the state refrain themselves from education due to lack of financial crisis.

Further, he assured to provide assistance in enhancing the educational experience and promoting overall development of the students, while emphasising the importance of personal growth and self-improvement in their academic and professional journeys.

Acknowledging the participation of students from remote areas, the Chief Minister felicitated the schools for their participation in the UDAAN festival during the event.

Additionally, chairman of UDAAN, Neeti Nepal, congratulated the Chief Minister for being recognised as the best performing Chief Minister among the small States in the country, while commending his efforts in various sectors of the State. Furthermore, she highlighted that UDAAN serves as a platform for students from both government and private schools from both rural and urban areas to participate and showcase their talents and skills.

It is to be mentioned that the UDAAN festival will be featuring a series of day-long events simultaneously to celebrate the occasion of creativity and academics.