Shillong, Aug 19: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has said the state government has invested more than Rs 1,700 crore in entrepreneurs through various programmes while support for self-help groups has risen to over Rs 1,000 crore from Rs 30 crore before 2018.
Speaking at the launch of RURALPRENEUR ’25, a two-day event organised by PRIME Rural and the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency at the State Central Library on Tuesday, Sangma said programmes like PRIME Urban, PRIME Rural, PRIME Collectives, CM Elevate, and various skilling initiatives is not just about funding but building ecosystems, connecting entrepreneurs to markets, and providing mentorship.
He recalled how, in 2018, the government began by awarding the Chief Minister’s Entrepreneurship Prize of Rs 1 lakh each month to recognise and encourage budding entrepreneurs.
“From that modest beginning, we slowly started to think about how to provide deeper support. The most important aspect of this journey is to create a culture of entrepreneurship – a culture of taking calculated risks, of looking at problems and seeing opportunities, of not depending solely on government jobs. It is about building an ecosystem where those who want to start businesses can find the support they need,” he said.
He spoke candidly about his own struggles as a young entrepreneur in the late 1990s, when support systems for business in Meghalaya were nearly nonexistent. He recalled starting an internet service provider with limited knowledge and resources, often feeling alone and without guidance.
“Even a word of encouragement would have meant so much – but it wasn’t there, because people were not familiar with entrepreneurship. These experiences shaped the policies I design today. I know the struggles entrepreneurs face, and I know how even small support can make a difference between giving up and holding on for one more day,” he shared.
The Chief Minister urged entrepreneurs to persevere despite obstacles. “Many entrepreneurs fail not because their ideas are bad, but because they stop trying. If you believe in your idea, keep going. We will stand with you,” he said, while also stressing the importance of community support.
He called on institutions, schools, companies, and even government departments to promote local entrepreneurs by purchasing their products.
“This year, I want to ensure that even the Christmas gift hampers I send to the Prime Minister and other leaders are made entirely from local entrepreneurs’ products, with their stories included,” he affirmed.
The CM also praised partnerships with organisations like the SELCO Foundation, which has helped solarise rural health centres.
Looking ahead, he envisioned stronger supply chains that connect rural and urban entrepreneurs, with local packaging units supporting producers and SHGs integrated with PRIME collectives.
RURALPRENEUR ’25 is an initiative aimed to celebrate rural enterprises and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Day one of the event featured MoU signings, release of the PRIME Rural B-B Catalogue, cheque distribution to MBMA-SELCO beneficiaries, and cultural programmes.
The second day will include networking workshops, UDYAM onboarding, business registration sessions and a closing ceremony.
