Shillong, May 22: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on May 21 emphasised that economic progress must create meaningful opportunities at the grassroots level as the state government expanded its skill development and entrepreneurship initiatives through Skillerate 2026 in Tura.
The programme, organised by the Meghalaya State Skill Development Society under the Department of Labour, Employment and Skill Development, focused on employment-oriented training, entrepreneurship and livelihood generation for young people entering the workforce across the state.
Addressing participants at Holly Hocks in Tura, the Chief Minister said economic advancement could not be achieved through government efforts alone and called for greater public participation. He said development would have real significance only when its benefits reached people at the grassroots, especially those living in rural areas. Sangma also encouraged citizens to actively engage in CM CONNECT programmes to help identify issues affecting local communities.
The Chief Minister stated that Meghalaya currently has more than 136 training partners working under different skill development programmes, with around 1.58 lakh enrolments recorded so far. He also announced plans for two new institutions — a College of Agriculture, Horticulture and Food Processing in East Garo Hills and a Veterinary College in Ri Bhoi.
A major feature of the event was the expansion of post-training support under the PROPEL scheme. Around 21,000 trainees are expected to receive startup toolkits valued at nearly ₹24 crore in total, with each toolkit worth approximately ₹9,000.
During the programme, the government distributed 34 work orders under Skills Meghalaya and Supporting Human Capital Development in Meghalaya, amounting to more than ₹16.59 crore. Additionally, 819 startup toolkits were handed over to beneficiaries.
Officials said the Tura programme followed the Shillong edition of Skillerate 2026 held earlier this month, where four flagship schemes — PROPEL, MEGASKILL, SHIELD and EQUIP — were introduced with a combined investment exceeding ₹50 crore to strengthen Meghalaya’s skill ecosystem.
Labour, Employment and Skill Development Minister Methodius Dkhar said the state had witnessed considerable progress in skill development in recent years and urged young people to value all forms of work.
He told participants that he saw them not merely as trainees but as future entrepreneurs and changemakers of Meghalaya.
Government figures shared during the event showed that more than 50,000 youth had received training across various sectors in the state over the last five years. Nearly 30,000 were awarded certifications that helped them pursue self-employment opportunities and formal jobs. The government also stated that nearly ₹80 crore had been spent on the Skills Meghalaya programme over the last three years, while trainees collectively generated approximately ₹150 crore in income during the same period.
