NGO picks up singer to bridge societies

Darjeeling: Efforts are on to build a common platform between the people of Nepal and Darjeeling to address common social and cultural issues.

A delegation of the Kathmandu-based Progressive Model Women Society, an NGO, today extended an invitation to Prakriti Giri, a finalist of a reality show Chote Ustaad, to perform in Kathmandu, soon.

“The event will be of an international standard and also an occasion to build a bridge between the people of Kathmandu and Darjeeling,” said Kamal Prasad Regmi, advisor to the society.

The 14-year-old Prakriti Giri also expressed her willingness for a first time performance in Nepal. “I want to go and perform in Kathmandu,” she said.

However, with her itinerary packed till January 15, the organisers have decided to host the concert according to Prakriti’s wishes. In fact, a hairstylist from Kathmandu, Neel David, had announced earlier to sponsor the release of the singer’s first album.

Gagan Gurung, a singer from Darjeeling who was present during a small interactive session organised at the Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan Hall today, raised questions on whether society would simply take up the responsibility to felicitate singers.

Prakriti is currently on a whirlwind tour to the hills to attend felicitation programmes. “It is time for the society to start thinking and to work towards helping the young singer achieve bigger goals. Felicitations are needed but a bigger contribution from society is also needed,” said Gurung.

Prakriti had earlier maintained that her dream was also to make a mark as an actor. The society has promised to extend all help to budding talents from the hills in future. Apart from helping the singer in her future endeavors, the society, which works closed with Nepal’s Samaj Kalyan Parishad, a government backed agency, also plans to work towards uplifting of women in these two regions.

A wing of the Progressive Model Women Society has also been opened up in Darjeeling “to try and address cultural issues like providing skill-based training and also work on human trafficking in the border areas”.