Shillong, Sep 28: The West Khasi Hills District has begun its month-long Golden Jubilee celebration marking 50 years of the district with the unveiling of the jubilee logo at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Nongstoiñ on Monday.
Deputy Commissioner Hema Nayak unveiled the celebration in presence of Superintendent of Police Herbert Pyniaid Kharkongor, officials and staff of various departments.
Speaking on the occasion, Nayak reflected on the 50-year journey of West Khasi Hills and the way forward after the Golden Jubilee. She spoke about the challenges faced by the district and urged the public, especially the youth, to move forward with hard work and confidence.
She said the district has progressed in various fields including sports, music and education, but flagged low participation of youth from the district in competitive examinations, resulting in fewer officers and government employees from West Khasi Hills. She urged youth to appear in large numbers in various exams to contribute to the growth of the district and the state.
The Golden Jubilee celebration will continue for a month and conclude on October 28, 2026, with programmes including cyclathon, horse racing and other events lined up.
Kharkongor recalled the challenges faced by the district over the years, especially during the peak of militancy which affected peace and development, and said the district has overcome those hurdles to become more peaceful. He flagged emerging challenges like drug abuse and called on all sections of society to work together to maintain peace and security.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Valentineson Swer spoke on the history of West Khasi Hills, recalling that the district was created on October 28, 1976, as one of the oldest districts in Meghalaya.
A major highlight of the inaugural programme was the release of the Golden Jubilee Logo and the Jubilee Theme Song composed by Josephas Thongni.
To mark the opening, Futsal and Basketball matches among government departments were also organised with officers and staff from various departments participating.
