Shillong, Oct 23: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the government sees youth as its greatest strength and spending on youth programmes is not expenditure but investment for generations.
He was addressing the SPARK Meghalaya State Summit ’26 in Tura. SPARK is School Programmes in Articulation, Resilience and Kindness.
Sangma said he had suggested shifting this year’s summit from Shillong to Tura so that students experience the true diversity of the state – its cultures, language, land, food and music.
“I am happy many students visited Tura for the first time. That is precisely the point,” he said, adding that the journey and stay are part of the learning.
Stating that every individual is unique, the CM told participants, “You have already won by being here,” and urged them to focus on self-growth.
He said SPARK is about giving confidence to youth to say ‘I will try’, whether in music, sports, entrepreneurship or painting.
Highlighting initiatives like MGMP, he said 8,000 artists are now earning through over 20,000 shows across the world, including Japan and Germany, with government support.
The day also saw release of SPARK Outcomes Report 2026, cultural performances and felicitation of District SPARK Stars.
