Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma jams with musicians at Delhi Pineapple Festival
Synopsis
Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma didn't just attend the Pineapple Festival in Delhi — he picked up a guitar and performed with 7,000-strong grassroots musicians his government funds. The CM-MGMP, with over 38,000 shows to its name, is quietly becoming one of India's most ambitious experiments in turning music into a state-backed livelihood engine.
Key Takeaways
Meghalaya CM Conrad K.
Sangma performed on guitar at the Pineapple Festival closing ceremony at Dilli Haat, New Delhi on 13 July .
The CM-MGMP supports more than 7,000 artists and has facilitated over 38,000 performances across Meghalaya.
The government finances artists to provide both a livelihood and a cultural experience for tourists.
The four-day festival promoted Meghalaya's premium pineapples alongside traditional cuisine, handicrafts, and cultural performances.
Officials described the programme as part of a broader strategy to integrate music, tourism, and youth employment.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Sunday, 13 July closed the Pineapple Festival at Dilli Haat, New Delhi by stepping onto the stage with a guitar, performing alongside young artists enrolled in the state's flagship cultural scheme. The closing ceremony doubled as a showcase of Meghalaya's music-driven livelihood strategy on a national platform.
The CM-MGMP in numbers
Sangma highlighted the scale of the Chief Minister's Meghalaya Grassroots Music Programme (CM-MGMP), describing it as one of the country's largest grassroots cultural initiatives. 'We have a programme called the Meghalaya Grassroots Music Programme, and you will be happy to know that there are more than 7,000 artists in this programme. We have conducted over 38,000 shows,' he told the gathering.
He added that these musicians are now a visible presence at tourist destinations across the state. 'Today, when you go to Meghalaya, in different tourist spots and destinations, these young musicians will be right there performing for you,' Sangma said.
Music as economic policy
The Chief Minister framed the programme explicitly as an economic intervention, not merely a cultural one. 'The Government of Meghalaya finances them to ensure that it not only helps their passion and talent grow, but also provides them a livelihood out of music, while giving visitors a glimpse of Meghalaya,' he said. The approach represents a deliberate effort to weave the creative economy into the state's broader tourism and employment strategy.
Officials said the initiative reflects the government's vision of leveraging culture to generate sustainable income for youth — a model that has enabled thousands of artists to perform regularly at public events and tourist sites across Meghalaya.
About the Pineapple Festival
The four-day festival, organised to promote Meghalaya's premium pineapples in the national capital, drew visitors with displays of agricultural produce, traditional cuisine, handicrafts, and cultural performances. The participation of CM-MGMP musicians added a distinct cultural dimension to what is primarily an agricultural trade event, reinforcing the state's brand as a destination defined as much by its music scene as by its produce.
Broader significance
Notably, the festival's dual identity — agricultural promotion fused with cultural diplomacy — mirrors a growing trend among northeastern states using Delhi platforms to build national visibility. For Meghalaya, pairing its globally recognised pineapples with a live demonstration of its grassroots music ecosystem sent a pointed message: culture and commerce are not separate agendas. With the CM-MGMP now crossing 38,000 performances, the programme's next phase will likely determine whether it scales into a replicable model for other states.
Point of View
000 artists and 38,000 shows is not a pilot, it is a programme at scale. What remains untested is whether the model survives a change in political leadership or a budget squeeze, both perennial risks for state-funded arts schemes. The Pineapple Festival appearance was good optics, but the harder question is whether CM-MGMP artists are earning enough from music alone to forgo other income — and whether the government tracks that. If it does, Meghalaya could make a credible case for exporting this model to other states with rich musical traditions and high youth unemployment.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CM-MGMP mentioned by Conrad Sangma?
The Chief Minister's Meghalaya Grassroots Music Programme (CM-MGMP) is a state government scheme that finances local artists to perform at tourist destinations and public events across Meghalaya. It currently supports more than 7,000 artists and has recorded over 38,000 performances, making it one of India's largest grassroots cultural initiatives.
Why did Meghalaya hold a Pineapple Festival in Delhi?
The four-day Pineapple Festival at Dilli Haat was organised to promote Meghalaya's premium pineapples in the national capital, alongside traditional cuisine, handicrafts, and cultural performances. It served as both an agricultural trade showcase and a platform for cultural diplomacy.
What did CM Conrad Sangma do at the festival?
Sangma closed the festival by performing on guitar alongside young musicians enrolled in the CM-MGMP, turning the ceremony into a live demonstration of the state's music livelihood programme.
How does the CM-MGMP support artists economically?
The Meghalaya government directly finances CM-MGMP artists to perform at tourist spots and public events, ensuring music becomes a sustainable source of income rather than just a hobby. Officials say the scheme links cultural promotion with youth employment generation.
What is the broader goal behind Meghalaya's music and pineapple push?
According to officials, the state government's strategy is to integrate culture, tourism, and economic development — using music to enhance the tourism experience while creating jobs for youth, and using events like the Pineapple Festival to build Meghalaya's brand nationally.
