Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 23
The North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) in association with Tabitha Enabling Academy, Kohima today organized Umang Festival for differently abled children here at North Field School.
Speaking on the occasion as the guest of honour, Kavita Acharya, wife of Nagaland’s Governor said Umang Festival is dedicated to differently-abled children in the north eastern states as part of Government of India’s national policy for persons with disabilities.
She said the festival aims to create awareness about issues facing the differently-abled persons, and also to provide them with a platform to interact with other children in a very healthy and congenial atmosphere.
“Umang is a commendable initiative to provide opportunities to bring the differently abled children closer to the mainstream society through cultural interactions,” she said.
50 differently abled children from Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland along with teachers joined the festival.
She was optimistic that the festival will not only create awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of the differently-abled people, “but it should most importantly remind all of us, that we are all created in the likeness of God.”
NEZCC Joint Director, Talinokcha said that Umang is a special scheme under the Ministry of Culture, GoI, and NEZCC as a nodal cultural centre implements the scheme in the north eastern states.
The basic objective of Umang Festival is to encourage the differently abled children to exhibit their talents and to provide opportunity to interact with other similar children.
He pointed out that seven more of such festival is being celebrated in North Eastern states – Ziro (Arunachal Pradesh), Jorhat (Assam), Imphal (Manipur), Tura (Meghalaya), Aizawl (Mizoram), Gozing (Sikkim), and Agartala (Tripura).
The function was chaired by Vekutilü Vese.
Earlier, a dance was performed by students of Tabitha Enabling Academy, solo song by Kevivor from G. Rio School, dance by Meren, Imtilong and Yoyo, Shad Shoh Kba by Roilang Vocational Training Centre, Meghalaya, modern folk song from Assam, and group song by Visually Impaired Institute Dimapur.
Umang Festival, which will culminte on August 25 in all the respective states, will also be celebrated at G. Rio School Kohima on August 24.
