Youngsters are the biggest strength of any state but it is also a challenge to see that they fulfill their potential and achieve their goals, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said today.
He attended a programme here today to felicitate district talent competition winners. The one day event also witnessed the felicitation of 103 campuses from East Khasi Hills by the CM for their participation in the Meghalaya Youth Survey 2022 and soft skills training interventions under Aspire Meghalaya, a state government initiative.
Speaking to the gathering, Sangma said that for any state or nation the youth are one of the biggest strengths as well as one of the biggest challenges but that, if only the population rids itself of its negative mentality, it cannot become one of the top 10 states in the next 10 years.
He also called for a change in mindset, from reservation to competition.
“We have to remember that we need to compete with the best,” the CM said. “The reservation policy is there for us but that does not mean that our mindset has to be a ‘reservation policy mindset’ but one of competition. Fight as if you need to survive. Fight as if there is no reservation for you. Fight as if you are going to compete with the best in the world. It is that competitive mindset that I want in every single youth.”
Aspire Meghalaya is meant to impart soft skills on the youth of the state. How the success of the programme can be measured is a bit of a mystery but the CM said that the results will not be seen today but in 10 years from now.
“You may not see the results of the programme today, but 10 years from now these same youths who are here today, the kind of confidence they will have in moving forward in life, the kind of positivity, acceptability and respect they have for others and themselves is the kind of impact and transformation we will see. We will see a different sense of purpose, passion, confidence and positivity like never before. This is the difference and it is going to happen. But we need to be persistent and work together. Every single person has a role to play to make sure that we are able to invest properly in the human capital we have,” he waxed lyrical.
Also present at the programme was RM Kurbah, Director of School Education and Literacy, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo and Assistant Director of Sports and Youth Affairs Paia B War Nongbri.
Afshana Nongkynrih (dancing), Class 9, St Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Shillong; Elanstar Mawiong (musical instruments), Class 11, St Anthony’s Higher Secondary School, Pynursla; and Ashish Paul (singing), Shillong Commerce College, Shillong, emerged as the Aspire Meghalaya district stars from East Khasi Hills.
Till date, 24 talents have been recognised from the eight districts – Eastern West Khasi Hills, North Garo Hills, West Khasi Hills, West Jaiñtia Hills, South West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, South Garo Hills and East Khasi Hills.
