Jowai, June 16: Music is a universal language and using music as a tool, Meghalaya AIDS Control Society’s 4th edition of the Red Ribbon Superstar Meghalaya Icon h
as been envisioned as a mass information and awareness on the issue of HIV and AIDS particularly amongst the youth. It is a known fact that a lot of people relate to and look up to musician, artists related to music in general, at the same time giving a platform to young and upcoming musicians to showcase their talents and to express their artistic expression. It was conceived for the winner of Meghalaya Icon to become the Brand Ambassador/Spokesperson for Meghalaya AIDS Control Society thereby making the face of the Icon synonymous with HIV and AIDS. This year the campaign has become bigger, with the incorporation of 7 district events and with the competition opened to solo artistes, folk troupes as well as musical groups/bands.
The campaign finally kicked off on Friday, the 14th of June 2013, with the West Jaintia Hills District level Competition in Jowai. This was followed immediately, by the East Jaintia Hills District Level event on Saturday, on the 15th of June 2013. This event was held in Khliehriat. Both these district level events witness a number of participants, rock bands as well as solo artistes dying for the title to be crowned the District Level Winners of Meghalaya Icon- IV. What was unique about this competition was that all the participants of Meghalaya Icon IV had taken the time to attend the counseling sessions that were held at the different ICTC’s (Integrated Counseling and testing Centre) in their respective towns. These visits were made mandatory for participation into the Competition. Further for artistes belonging to places where no testing Centre was available, the Mobile ICTC of MACS was made available at both the district events where participants as well as the audience were given the opportunity to get counseled on the subject of HIV & AIDS as well as opt for testing if they wanted to know their status. This strategy serves as a good motivating factor for the general population to shed of their initial inhibitions and come forward for testing. Before the announcement of the winners, an interactive session was also conducted in both the districts events between the audience as well as the participants with Officers from MACS, where a lot of doubts and misconceptions with regards to the subject were clarified.
Eventually the group Blood Brothers from Jowai was declared the winner of the West Jaintia Hills District level Event walking away with a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 /- and they will be representing the District in the Grand Finale which will be held in Shillong on the 6th of July 2013 where they will be fighting out for the title of Meghalaya Icon IV and a cash prize of Rs. 1, 00,000 /-. Lynx, also from Jowai bagged second place with a cash prize of Rs.5000 /-. In, Khliehriat, the winning act who will be representing East Jaintia Hills District in the Finale is Burning Flame, with The Colleague Soul coming in a close second.
The Campaign will now move on to the Ri Bhoi District Event at Umsning on the 21st of June 2013 and South West Khasi Hills District in Mawkyrwat on the 22nd of June 2013.(SP News)
