Tura, July 29: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today felicitated the ‘Achiever of the Month’ under the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Programme (CM-MGMP) at a function held in Tura, attended by musicians, entrepreneurs and youth from across the state.
Taking Governance Closer to the People
Addressing the gathering, Sangma said that holding state government programmes in different locations helps facilitate the sharing of culture and experiences across regions. Citing the recent Meghalaya Games in Jowai as an example, he noted that 90% of the athletes from Garo Hills had never visited Shillong before. “This is why it is important to take governance and celebration to the people,” he said.
Recognising Achievers Across Sectors
Speaking about the ‘Achiever of the Month’ initiative, the Chief Minister said it was launched in 2018 to recognise, promote and motivate individuals, particularly in entrepreneurship. He announced that the programme would now be extended to other sectors as well. “Every month we will select a department and recognise and felicitate an achiever at the Chief Minister’s level. This month is for music, next month for sports, and so on,” he said.
He cited two recent examples of recognised entrepreneurs — one manufacturing health bands and fitness equipment in Meghalaya, and another who built a turnover of Rs 60 lakh through a garbage recycling venture — as encouraging signs of homegrown innovation in the state.
Music as Identity
Turning to CM-MGMP and the spirit behind the ‘Achiever of the Month’, Sangma described music as an integral part of the state’s culture and everyday life. “It is such an important part of our identity and definitely a very important part of our day-to-day lives,” he said. While Meghalaya’s musical talent is recognised globally, he acknowledged that efforts to promote the state’s music and musicians have not been enough, prompting the launch of programmes like CM-MGMP. “Today, MGMP supports thousands of artists, and though this is not enough, we are moving in the right direction,” he said.
He added that the larger goal is to promote music as a sector rather than celebrate individual musicians alone. “It’s not about individual musicians alone but why and how music is important, what the government is doing, and what more we can do to make things even better,” he said.
Vision for the Music Sector
Outlining his vision for the sector, the Chief Minister urged artists to focus on original compositions and fusion with traditional instruments and sounds. “Your originals will give you identity. We need to create music that can be shared on a global stage, like the Ziro Festival model,” he said. He directed that major festivals, including Cherry Blossom, feature dedicated segments for original music by local artists, giving them a platform to showcase their talent.
He also announced several infrastructure initiatives for the sector:
A 40,000–50,000 capacity performing arena coming up at the new Knowledge City in Mawkynrew, Shillong
A music-themed hotel with live music performances daily
A Music Institute in Tura
A Film City and Film Institute in Shillong
The Chief Minister also stressed the need for greater professionalism and business acumen in the music industry. “Musicians are musicians. We need entrepreneurs and professionals to run studios, manage bands, and build the business side,” he said, pointing to the lack of world-class recording studios in the Northeast as a major investment opportunity. He added that the government would also push for training in music theory and the scientific understanding of music. “There is no harm in understanding the science behind music. It will only help us improve,” he said.
Following his address, the Chief Minister interacted with musicians from across the state, listening to their concerns and suggestions as part of efforts to build a more sustainable music ecosystem.
CM-MGMP Season 4 on the Horizon
The Chief Minister also revealed that CM-MGMP Season 4 is expected to launch soon. While paid performance opportunities will continue as the core of the programme, the new season will place greater emphasis on artists’ long-term professional development, including:
Support and incentives for original music
Artist training and workshops
Improved artist registration and classification
A dedicated CM-MGMP website
Transparent scheduling and artist rotation
National and international exposure
Flagship and signature events
Strengthened monitoring and documentation
Meet the Achiever
This month’s ‘Achiever of the Month’ is Chegim Durama, a 25-year-old singer-songwriter from Tura who began exploring music production at the age of 13. He released his debut single, “Aman A·song,” at 21, and has since performed at several music festivals, including the Me·gong Festival, Krimkro Music Festival, the Pineapple Festival in New Delhi, and Kynjai Fest 2025.
Chegim said that CM-MGMP marked one of the biggest turning points in his career, noting that the programme has made a real difference for many independent musicians across the state. The financial support, he said, allowed him to record new music, invest in production equipment, and continue pursuing his dream without giving up — a reminder, he added, that music matters and deserves to be heard.
