Necessity of creative activities for children highlighted
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 15 2023:
The valedictory ceremony of the '15-days Training Course on Manipuri Dance & Bharatnatyam Dance' organised by Cosmopolitan Cultural Institute, Manipur was held today at the auditorium hall of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy.
Speaking as the chief guest at the closing ceremony, Dilip Mayengbam, former Director, JN Manipur Dance Academy asserted that many schools in the State do not have playgrounds in their campuses.
Aside from this, open grounds are slowly disappearing from many localities.
As a result of this, children nowadays play mobile games and eat packaged junk food, he opined.
Consequently, the rate of obesity among children is on the rise.
In view of this situation, folks who establish schools should keep in mind to make sure that their schools have playgrounds for the students, he said.
He also commented on the lack of creativity among children and attributed this to the lack of free time they have as they are sent off for tuition right after returning from school leaving them with hardly any free time to pursue other activities.
Under such circumstances, he expressed appreciation towards Cosmopolitan Cultural Institute, Manipur for organizing the training program and teaching children the basics of these dance forms and involving them in such valuable extra curricular and creative activity.
He further opined that if girls are taught the indigenous martial art form from a young age, they will be able to protect themselves and fend off any potential perpetrators.
Addressing the gathering, Budha Chingtham, president, Cultural Workers & Activists Forum Manipur stated that children nowadays are mentally affected by the scores of unfortunate incidents occurring around them everyday which has left them without the will to learn new things or play.
He suggested that involving kids in some form of creative endeavour is the only solution to this 'mental garbage'.
Pukhrambam Bilash, Director, JNMDA also spoke on the occasion and stated that the Cosmopolitan Cultural Institute, Manipur was established in 2007.Dr Pukhrambam Tejbati delivered the keynote address and distributed certificates to the children who participated in the training program.
Aside from this, many cultural programmes were put on show to the delight of the audience."Towards the end of the function, the gathering honoured recently deceased theatre personality Naba Wareppa with an offering of floral tribute on his photo.