Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma launched the CM-ELEVATE in Tura today, with the programme aimed at engaging, employing and empowering the youth of Meghalaya through entrepreneurship.
The day also marked the distribution of cheques under the YESS Meghalaya youth initiative.
CM-ELEVATE is our flagship initiative designed to make our youth, the partners, in the development of our beloved state,” Sangma said. “We have set ambitious goals, with the intention of creating entrepreneurship opportunities for over 20,000 individuals in the span of three years, across sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, tourism and more. This initiative comes with a total investment of approximately Rs 300 crore over three years.”
He informed that the government is providing financial support ranging from 35 to 75 per cent of the project cost to mitigate the risks associated with credit. He called upon individuals from Meghalaya, registered entities, and non-registered collectives, such as self-help groups (SHGs), village organisations (VOs) and producer groups (PGs) from Meghalaya to apply for the programme.
Referring to the YESS initiative, Sangma also informed that the total application is around 1,500.
The programme also focused on the Prime Tourism Vehicle Allocation and Prime Agriculture Response Vehicles (PARVs). Accordingly, six Prime Tourism Vehicles were allocated to boost tourism in Garo Hills. The government has allocated 46 PARVs to empower the farmers and improve agricultural practices.
Garo Hills has a total of 19,308 SHGs and Rs 136.85 crore has been disbursed to support their activities and projects.
At a separate programme, Sangma inaugurated an LED bulb assembly unit in Tura.
The venture, promoted by GHE Impact Ventures Pvt Ltd, is supported by the state government. Inaugurating the project, the CM said that the establishment of the assembly unit is a first step towards creating green energy solutions.
“We are encouraging and trying to build up the ecosystem to promote clean and efficient energy”, he said while stating that the unit in Tura, which is first in the state, will be replicated elsewhere.
He urged the people to use the Meghalaya-based product in an extensive way, in different departments, houses and organisations and encourage the local venture. A total of 85 individuals have been involved by GHE Impact Ventures at the assembly unit.
