Shillong: The Meghalaya government has launched a significant, restructured skills development initiative, aiming to equip over 23,000 young people across the state with market-relevant expertise. This ambitious programme marks a clear shift towards employment-focused outcomes, moving beyond mere training completion rates.
The Meghalaya State Skill Development Society recently wrapped up a crucial four-day workshop on Friday at the Institute of Hotel Management in New Shillong. The intensive sessions saw 119 local training providers, representing 86 institutes, receive essential strategic guidance and formal work orders under the revitalised CM Skills Mission.
Principal Secretary Challienkhum Songate, addressing the closing ceremony, lauded the training providers as “change makers of society,” underlining their pivotal role in aligning educational modules with Meghalaya’s economic priorities for the fiscal year 2025-26. The restructured mission signals a departure from older approaches, focusing intently on three core objectives: enhancing training quality to compete at the national level, broadening the spectrum of skill development programmes, and fostering institutional synergy for long-term impact.
Jagdish Chelani, the Executive Director, personally oversaw the distribution of certificates and Memorandums of Understanding to 17 training providers. In a move to kickstart implementation, 65 organisations also received their work orders immediately. The initiative zeroes in on vital sectors such as agriculture and food processing, tourism and hospitality, apparel and textiles, and construction – areas identified as having significant potential for job creation within Meghalaya.
Going forward, these training providers will be tasked with identifying specific skill gaps at the block and village levels. They are expected to implement targeted support mechanisms for the youth, ensuring that the programmes cater both to local livelihood necessities and emerging global market opportunities. The recent workshop was a dynamic platform, featuring extensive panel discussions and sectoral meetings, all aimed at addressing systemic improvements. These included enhancing institutional clarity, deepening the integration of financial and market-led solutions, and developing actionable frameworks for programme execution.
Officials have made it abundantly clear that the success of this mission will not be measured by the number of individuals trained but by the tangible employment outcomes. This reflects a broader, more impactful change in the state’s approach to skill development. The initiative comes at a critical juncture as Meghalaya strives to bolster its workforce capabilities and combat youth unemployment, especially in rural pockets where traditional job avenues have often been limited.
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