SHILLONG, MAY 13: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said livelihood creation remains the State’s biggest challenge. He noted that Meghalaya’s young demographic profile makes this challenge even more significant.
“Meghalaya is a young state, where nearly 50% of our population is below the age of 20. Every year, approximately 60,000 young individuals enter the workforce. This number is expected to grow further in the coming years. Therefore, the creation of sustainable livelihoods and jobs is, and will continue to be, the most critical challenge for us as a government,” he stated.
Sangma was addressing at the Skillerate 2026 held at the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Shillong, where he launched four new initiatives aimed at strengthening Meghalaya’s skill development ecosystem and expanding employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for the youth of the State.
Explaining the rationale behind a State-led skilling model, he said national programmes, while important, often require localisation. “We have found that state-specific needs sometimes require more focused and tailored interventions. This is why we decided to design our own skill programme—one that is funded by us, tailored to our requirements, and flexible enough to evolve as needed,” he said.
He also acknowledged the role of development partners, stating that close to 50% of the funding comes from an externally aided project supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Addressing concerns over such funding, he clarified, “Nearly 80% of this funding is repaid by the Government of India. The financial burden on the state is minimal, while the benefits are substantial and visible.”
Highlighting outcomes of the programme, he said thousands of youth have already benefited. “Because of these externally aided projects, thousands of our youth have been trained. These are real, tangible outcomes—transforming lives, creating opportunities, and generating employment,” he said.
The Chief Minister further emphasized that youth aspirations are diverse and the skilling ecosystem must reflect that. “Our youth have diverse aspirations. Some wish to remain in their villages and work close to home. Some aspire to move to cities within the country. Others aim to work abroad. Each of them, however, seeks a dignified livelihood,” he said.
He cited examples of successful placements, noting that around 19 trained tourism youth have been placed at JW Marriott in Mumbai, while about 30 nurses trained in Japanese language are currently working in Japan.
“Our objective is clear: to ensure flexibility so that every youth can choose their own path, while avoiding forced migration for employment,” he said.
Speaking on the newly launched initiative, he said the programme addresses a critical gap identified through feedback. “We realized… that while skill training and certification were being provided, many beneficiaries lacked the necessary tools and support to effectively use their skills for livelihood generation. This programme is a direct response to that gap,” he said.
He added that toolkits will be distributed according to trades, including specialized kits for tour guides, plumbers, and technicians. The initiative will benefit nearly 21,000 trainees, with an estimated expenditure of around ₹24 crore for toolkits alone.
He also highlighted the scale of investment in skilling. “In addition, approximately ₹40,000 is spent by the government per trainee. Over the last three years, around ₹80 crore has been invested in the Meghalaya Skills Programme. This investment has generated an estimated ₹150 crore in earnings by trained youth,” he said, adding that skilling is “an investment that is delivering returns.”
Reaffirming the Government’s philosophy, he said, “We strongly believe in the dignity of labour. There is no job that is small or big. Every form of work is important, and every individual deserves respect for the work they do.”
He also underlined the importance of partnerships in implementation. “The government acts as a facilitator—we provide policy support, funding, and ecosystem creation. However, implementation is carried out by training partners and other stakeholders,” he said, acknowledging the role of over 150 training partners.
He emphasized stronger industry integration, stating that trained youth must be absorbed into the economy based on their skills, including masons in construction, automobile trainees in service centres, and tourist guides in the tourism sector.
Concluding his address, the Chief Minister thanked the Labour Department, MSSDS, and all stakeholders for building a strong skilling ecosystem, and highlighted that the State is continuously expanding its initiatives, including support for persons with disabilities, caregivers, and global skill competitions such as the 2028 Japan Skill Competition.
“We are continuously adapting and expanding our programmes to meet emerging needs,” he said, wishing success to all initiatives and the youth of the State.
The programme was organized by the Department of Labour, Employment and Skill Development, Government of Meghalaya, in collaboration with Skills Meghalaya and the Meghalaya State Skill Development Society (MSSDS).
The launch of four flagship initiatives under Skills Meghalaya include PROPEL, which supports trained youth after training through startup toolkits, mobility support, salary augmentation, marketing assistance and industry linkages, with a total outlay of ₹36 crore—₹21 crore for startup tools benefiting 21,000 trainees, ₹3 crore for mobility support, ₹10 crore for salary augmentation, and ₹1 crore for marketing and industry linkages; MEGASKILL, which prepares youth to compete from district to international level, culminating in participation in the WorldSkills Competition in Japan 2028; SHIELD, which focuses on structured training, certification, placement support and dignified employment in homecare services; and EQUIP, which promotes inclusive skilling for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups to ensure equitable access to opportunities.
Speaking on the occasion, Labour, Employment and Skill Development Minister Methodius Dkhar described the launch of the four initiatives as an important milestone in Meghalaya’s skilling journey and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to empowering youth through skill development.
“Today is a special day as we launch these four programmes,” he said, adding that the presence of so many young people reflected the promise and potential of Meghalaya’s next generation.
Highlighting the importance of skill development, Dkhar said talent alone is not enough and must be nurtured and guided. “When I look at our youth, I see hope for Meghalaya. I see ambition, talent, and the potential of future entrepreneurs,” he said.
He stressed that skill development is about confidence-building and opportunity creation, urging youth to take pride in all forms of work.
He further said the Government is working to bridge the gap between training and employment and strengthen collaboration between MSSDS, ITIs, and other institutions.
In his welcome address, Dr. Vijay Kumar D, CEO of MSSDS, outlined the evolution of Meghalaya’s skilling ecosystem, noting the shift in 2021 towards a State-led mission under the guidance of the Chief Minister.
He highlighted the growth of nearly 150 local training partners across the State, the creation of a digital skills portal, and the training of over 50,000 youth over the past five years, with nearly 30,000 certified.
He also noted the introduction of toolkit support to enable beneficiaries to begin livelihoods immediately after training, marking another milestone in Meghalaya’s skilling journey.
The programme also featured the distribution of work orders under Skills Meghalaya and other initiatives aimed at supporting human capital development in the State. Startup tools were also distributed to beneficiaries to promote entrepreneurship and self-employment.
A short film showcasing the work and achievements of MSSDS was also screened during the event.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, followed by a group photograph and the State Anthem.
Skillerate 2026 marks another significant step in Meghalaya’s ongoing efforts to strengthen human capital, promote entrepreneurship, and connect youth with meaningful livelihood opportunities.
Chief Electoral Officer Dr. B.D.R. Tiwari and Commissioner and Secretary Matsiewdor War Nongbri were also present at the programme, along with senior government officials, industry stakeholders, trainees, entrepreneurs, and beneficiaries from various skill development initiatives.
By Our Reporter
