SHILLONG, JUL 2: Youth participation in governance is essential for the state’s future, Speaker Thomas A Sangma told student interns on Thursday, urging them to take part in public life and aspire to become legislators who can shape Meghalaya and the nation.
“The Legislative Assembly is not merely an institution studied in textbooks but a place where ideas are debated, policies are shaped and the aspirations of the people are given a voice,” Sangma said during an interactive session hosted by the Law Department of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly at the Assembly Building, Rilbong.
He described the internship as more than an academic exercise, calling it a meaningful opportunity for students to experience democracy in action.
Such interactions, he said, are vital for bridging academic learning with practical governance.
Around 60 interns from eight colleges across Meghalaya and the University of Delhi attended the programme, which aimed to give young learners direct exposure to the functioning of the legislature and the democratic process.
Also present were Government Deputy Chief Whip Ronnie V. Lyngdoh, MLAs Santa Mary Shylla, Charles Pyngrope and Brightstarwell Marbaniang, Assembly Secretary Malthus S. Sangma, Adviser (Legislation) Andrew Simons, and senior officers of the Assembly Secretariat.
Underscoring the role of young people, the Speaker said they bring fresh ideas, energy and innovation to governance.
He recalled a recent parliamentary seminar in Canada attended by legislators from around 90 countries, pointing to the example of a 25-year-old woman parliamentarian.
He noted that although Canada has no reservation for women in Parliament, women make up more than half of its elected representatives.
Sangma said differences of opinion during Assembly debates are a fundamental feature of democracy.
“Democracy teaches people to respect diverse viewpoints, engage in constructive dialogue and work collectively towards solutions that serve the public interest,” he told the students.
He added that good governance in Meghalaya must remain rooted in understanding and responding to the needs and aspirations of all communities across the state.
The session concluded with a lively question-and-answer segment, where interns raised a wide range of queries with the Speaker and MLAs.
Government Deputy Chief Whip Ronnie V Lyngdoh said such interactions help dispel misconceptions about politics and give students a clearer understanding of the Legislature and the democratic process.
MLA Santa Mary Shylla called the interaction mutually enriching, adding that legislators also gained valuable insights from the perspectives and ideas shared by the students.
