₹60,000 cr earmarked for skilling 5 lakh youth in 5 years: Dhankhar
Shillong, Oct 16: In a major boost to the state’s infrastructure for economic growth, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday launched three major initiatives including laying of foundation for Meghalaya Skill and Innovation Hub.
The Vice-President also launched CM Business Catalyst: Student B-Plan Challenge with IIM Shillong and attended signing of an MoU between United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Government of Meghalaya on promotion of entrepreneurship.
The ₹77.5-crore Meghalaya Skill and Innovation Hub to be built in a 6.54-acre plot in New Shillong will facilitate incubation, training, collaboration and industry partnerships to youth of the region.
Speaking on the occasion, the Vice-President appreciated chief minister Conrad K Sangma for taking various initiatives to harness potential of the youth of the state.
Referring to the office of President of India being held by a tribal woman and Meghalaya’s incumbent and first woman DGP also being a tribal, he said such developments portray the changing profile of India’s growth trajectory.
Expressing the hope that the Skill and Innovation Hub would go a long way in promoting entrepreneurship in the state, he said it would also boost human resources of the state.
Informing that ₹60,000 crore has been earmarked for skilling 5 lakh youth in the next five years in the country, the Vice-President said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has open a window of opportunities for the youth through different skilling and startup programmes.
“The empowerment of the youth will ensure big economic upsurge in the country,” he added.
In his address, Governor CH Vijayashankar emphasised on the state’s potential and resources to provide opportunities to the youth.
85% of Meghalaya’s population below 45 years: CM
Chief minister Conrad K Sangma, meanwhile, termed the state’s young population as its greatest strength, saying, “85% of our population is below the age of 45. We have initiated programmes to channelise the strength of our youth.”
The Meghalaya Skill and Innovation Hub is one of the steps to have the required manpower to fulfill the government’s objective to boost entrepreneurship in a big way, he said, adding that various business plan competitions were organised to boost rural entrepreneurship.
“We provide support and handholding to our entrepreneurs through programmes like CM Elevate, and provide financial subsidies,” he added.
Health minister Ampareen Lyngdoh also attended the programme among others.
