The state government launched a scheme today to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh to organisations that work with the youth.
Nearly three-quarters of Meghalaya’s population is under the age of 35, making the state younger than the Indian average, and the government wants to tap into this potential.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma launched the Youth Engagement through Empowered Youth Organisations scheme, to be known as YESS.
At the function today, he said that there are over 3,000 registered youth clubs and other organisations in Meghalaya working for the “development, engagement and rejuvenation of the youth.”
Through this initiative, registered entities focused on youth development and empowerment can apply for financial assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh if they meet certain criteria and are approved by the evaluation committee.
“With the youth dominating our state demographic, it was imperative that the state government take measures to create a positive impact on the community,” Sangma said. “The YESS programme is in line with the state government’s vision of empowering the youth of Meghalaya. It is they who can lead the state towards further growth and prosperity. The key objective is to provide the proper opportunities for the abundant potential in our youngsters, as well as the freedom to seek excellence without financial or societal constraints.”
The government anticipates that the youth organizations taking part in this initiative will participate in activities like environmental protection and conservation programmes and workshops, financial literacy workshops and campaigns, awareness dissemination workshops and seminars, career counselling and guidance workshops and clinics, mental wellbeing seminars and campaigns.
