SHILLONG: The Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today joined the global observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at the U Soso Tham Auditorium, Shillong. Advisor to the Social Welfare Department, Paul Lyngdoh, was also present at the event.
In his address, the Chief Minister said that the strength of a society is reflected not in its treatment of the strong but in how it supports those who face challenges. “Today, we celebrate extraordinary ability—the power to overcome, to create, and to inspire,” he remarked.
Highlighting the state’s shift from a charity-based approach to a rights-based and dignity-driven framework, he noted several initiatives under Meghalaya’s flagship programs. He cited the Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project, which helped form the Eastern Brook Band, a group of musicians with disabilities who now represent the state on international platforms. He also mentioned that Meghalaya’s first Disability Anthem has played a key role in changing public perception.
The Chief Minister further shared that an inclusive debate competition opened opportunities for neurodivergent students in colleges. As part of the state’s entrepreneurship initiatives, 30 PwD entrepreneurs were identified, eight of whom received ₹2.5 lakh each, along with the establishment of the first PwD-run CSC in the Northeast.
He highlighted the organisation of the region’s first blind football tournament, which he said promoted solidarity and inclusion. Sangma also announced that Meghalaya has fully implemented the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, the Meghalaya Rules, and the State Policy for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. Additionally, 41 government buildings and 84 government websites have been made fully accessible.
The Chief Minister underscored the impact of the Meghalaya Sign Bank App, which features 10,000 signs and has received national recognition for promoting digital inclusivity. The state’s community-based rehabilitation network now covers all districts and 46 blocks, achieving over 70% UDID coverage, with 32,000 PwDs possessing identity cards. He added that 58 merit scholarships are awarded annually, benefiting 370 students, while District Resource Centres continue to provide essential services such as physiotherapy, speech therapy, audiology, and early intervention.
Sangma also noted that Meghalaya is the first state in the Northeast to integrate mental well-being into governance, praising many PwDs who have overcome challenges to excel in various fields.
“As we celebrate EMPOWERFEST 3.0, we celebrate a movement that transformed isolation into participation and sympathy into empowerment,” he said. He urged citizens to eliminate physical, digital, educational, and economic barriers and to ensure that every individual’s talent is recognized. “Let no dream be too distant, no voice too faint, and no ability too small to matter,” he concluded.
During the event, the Chief Minister felicitated outstanding persons with disabilities and presented awards to winners of the EMPOWERFEST Inclusive Film Festival. The programme also featured the inauguration of the K-9 Sniffer Dogs Canine Unit and the signing of an MoU with Sankaradeva College for a statewide drug survey.
