Shillong, Oct 16: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for Meghalaya Hub and Innovation Hub, launched CM Business Catalyst: Student B-Plan challenge with IIM Shillong and signed MoU between UNDP and state goverment on promotion of entrepreneurship.
Earlier, Chief Secretary DP Wahlang and Agriculture Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh highlighted the importance of the initiatives launched by the vice president.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said 80,000 youths emerge was work force annually and hence there is a need to empower them.
He also narrated various initiatives launched by the state goverment through slides to improve the economy of the state.
Meghalaya Skill and Innovation Hub will be constructed in 6.54 acres in New Shillong at the cost of Rs. 77.5 crore The facility will cater to the requirement of the youth for incubation, training, collaboration and industry partnerships.
Dhankhar lauded chief minister for different intervention that would nurture the potential of the young population of the state.
He said that the highest office of the country the President of India is held by a woman, who is a tribal and Meghalaya’s first woman DGP who is a tribal goes a long way to portray the changing profile of India’s growth trajectory.
He said that the skill and innovation hub will go a long way in promoting entrepreneurship in the state. He also hoped that the human resources of the state will get a boost with the establishment of the centre.
“Skilling of youth is the need of the time”, the Vice President added.
He said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has opened a window of opportunities for the youth through different skilling and startup programmes.
He also informed that 60,000 crore has been earmarked for skilling 5 lakh youth in the next five years in the country.
“The empowerment of the youth will ensure big economic upsurge in the country,” he added.
The chief minister said that Meghalaya’s young population is its strength.
He said the government is supporting entrepreneurship in a big way, and to address the requirement of manpower shortage the skill and innovation hub is being set up.
“85 percent of our population is below the age of 45. The youth are our greatest strength and asset and we have initiated programme that channelise the strength of our youth”, the chief minister said.
He further said that the government has different programmes through which youth are given trainings, so that they are able to contribute productive for the growth of the state.
Talking on promoting rural entrepreneurs, the chief minister said that government organises various business plan competitions and supports entrepreneurs.
“We provide support and handholding to our entrepreneurs through programmes like CM Elevate, and provide financial subsidies”, he added.
