Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has said as the State could employ only 1200 people in various government departments annually the government is focused on entrepreneurship to create opportunities for youth.
Addressing at the Rozgar Mela organized by the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) here today, the Chief Minister acknowledged that government jobs and government agency jobs have been consistently limited, with figures not exceeding 1200-1500 positions annually, encompassing different sectors, departments, divisions, and district selections.
He said the government has envisioned a multi-pronged approach to tackle the employment challenge and that a holistic approach is essential to address unemployment challenge. “There are no definitive right or wrong answers, but rather a need to take proactive steps at different levels to address these employment issues,” he said.
Stating that there is a need for skill development and language proficiency, the Chief Minister spoke about opportunities for Meghalaya’s workforce to explore jobs abroad, especially in countries like China, Japan, Germany, the UK, and Australia.
He spoke about the new CM Elevate program and said the project will see up to 20,000 entrepreneurs receive subsidies of between 30 to 70 per cent for projects that have been scrutinised by the state government.
The aim is to support 20,000 youths so that they are able to start more businesses and be able to become job creators.
Sangma said that the government will scrutinise business plans and screen the candidates before approving the funding, giving examples of music studios, fitness centres or movie theatres.
The three-day mela aims at offering employment opportunities to thousands of aspiring individuals. The inaugural day witnessed over 3000 registrations from job seekers.
Companies renowned for their excellence in recruitment, such as TimesPro, Adecco, Sudexo, and several others, participated in this recruitment extravaganza.
NEHU Vice Chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla said with 7000 positions available, the event symbolizes NEHU’s commitment to nurturing the potential of the youth and propelling them towards a path of success.
He said the event caters to individuals with qualifications ranging from the 10th-grade level to post-graduation. “This approach ensures equal opportunities for every talented individual, embracing their diverse skill sets and talents,” he said.