Teer to go international, online soon

SHILLONG, AUG 9: The “Thoh Kyntip” or popularly known as “Teer” will not only go hi-tech but will also go international if the proposed tie up between the Meghalaya government and the NEC Group of Companies, a Scotland based Micro gaming company, comes through.

The NEC Group of Companies proposes to bring in “advance technology” in the traditional archery game of the indigenous Khasis, which is very popular both within and outside the state.

Till some years ago, the “Thoh Kyntip” or “Teer” was illegal. The teer is a sort of gambling where the people go to a counter and buy any number between 1 to 100 mainly based on their dream they had dreamed. A person, for example, can buy no 15 for Re 1 and if that number that number is shot by the archers in the evening then he will get Rs 80.

Everyday professional Khasi archers gather in a field in Polo and shoots at a target usually made of haystack. Realising the potential of  “teer” as huge source of revenue for the government, the Meghalaya government legalized it.

Now the state government is looking to upgrade and modernize the Teer with the help of the company from Scotland. Meghalaya Information & Technology minister AL Hek said Friday, “We are planning to modernize the traditional archery game ‘teer’ in Meghalaya  which will include the state in the map of national and international games by tying up with reputed companies.”

Hek revealed the government’s intention of making the game of “teer” bigger so that it will not only generate more revenue but also help promote tourism in the state.

Hek said, “This will be the first of its kind project which will also help in generating employment opportunity to the people of the state.”

A delegation representing the NEC Group of Companies and Micro Gaming from Scotland visited Polo along with Hek on Friday to study and understand the traditional archery game and how best it can be blended with modern technology.

NEC GC member S Bhattacharyya said, “The traditional archery game  (teer) is also a game of skills.” He said with this concept in mind, the company want to promote the game not only in Meghalaya but throughout the world.

Bhattacharyya felt if “teer” is promoted and packaged well it can help the state in generating more revenue and also preserve as well as showcase this indigenous archery game. He said gaming is an industry.

Bhattarcharyya said blending the teer with modern technology will revolutionise the game and make it into an event vi

s-à-vis traditional skills in it. It will also be available “on-line” for people from across the globe to participate.”

Bhattarcharyya informed that Friday’s visit was a preliminary and said that the company has to conduct a study to understand the nature of the game so that companies can design “software” for the game. He said, “We will be designing on how to go about executing the game internationally.”

Bhattarcharyya i

nformed the process would take time. He said, “We would soon submit a proposal to the Meghalaya government on the project but refused to divulge more on the cost of such project.

Bhattarcharyya also assured that the company will ensure that software will be foolproof against “game fixing” as it would be designed in a way which will prevent any such activity. He said, “We want to bring transparency by using modern technology.” – By Our Reporter