Meghalaya to produce first-ever music album entirely by persons with disabilities

Shillong, July 4: Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh has expressed his desire to compile an album of songs written, performed, and managed by persons with disabilities (PwDs) during the current government’s tenure.

“I would like to see within the tenure of the current government we should be able to compile an album of songs written, performed and entirely managed by persons with disabilities with the support of the department of social welfare,” Lyngdoh said while addressing at the silver jubilee celebration of the State Society for the Implementation of Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities (SSIRPD) held at U Soso Tham Auditorium on Friday.

He stated that the government will introduce a special category in the tourism department’s sponsored music program, focusing on music and songs written and performed by persons with disabilities.

Lyngdoh, who also holds the tourism department department, announced support for the Eastern Brook Band, a visually impaired musical group from Shillong.

“We are here to support musicians as a tourism department and more specially when it comes to those persons with disabilities it will be my profuse pleasure to offer them all kinds of support including facilitating their tours outside Meghalaya to musical destinations elsewhere in the country and probably even abroad,” the minister said while expressing his enthusiasm for backing musicians with disabilities.

“We are here to back you up and to prove to the rest of the country that when it comes to Meghalaya, we do not see PwDs like somebody we feel sympathy for. No. We go beyond sympathy and feel empathy for them. I will go a step further to say that this band (Eastern Brook Band) has today joined the likes of Stevie Wonder and others etc,” he stated.

According to him, the government aims to incentivize these musicians through job training and rehabilitation services.

Lyngdoh mentioned that there are already platforms like YouTube and Spotify where musicians can earn quick financial returns. He added that the state government has launched an OTT platform called Hello Meghalaya, designed to support and showcase Meghalaya’s creative talent.

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