Principal Secretary of Labour, Employment and Skill Development, Government of Meghalaya, Frederick R. Kharkongor, on Tuesday called for stronger collaboration between industry and educational institutions to transform technical and vocational education in Meghalaya under the PM-SETU initiative.
Addressing an Industry Outreach and Awareness Programme on Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs, or PM-SETU, Kharkongor said skilled people, and not just infrastructure and technology, are the foundation of a strong economy.
He cited Meghalaya’s living root bridges as an example of indigenous engineering skills and stressed the need to build on such strengths to create new opportunities for the state’s youth.
Kharkongor said the programme was not merely about launching a project but about building partnerships between government, industry and institutions to shape the future of technical and vocational education.
He also announced plans to make Industrial Training Institutes, or ITIs, more aspirational by introducing recognition and graduation programmes for students and faculty members.
The initiative aims to foster a culture of excellence and change the perception of ITIs as a secondary option for students.
Expressing confidence in the PM-SETU programme, Kharkongor said the partnerships being forged today would help create opportunities for young technicians, electricians, hospitality professionals, drone operators, EV technicians and entrepreneurs from Meghalaya.
The programme also featured discussions on public-private partnerships, industry-led ITI transformation and the progress of PM-SETU across the Northeast, with stakeholders agreeing on the need for greater industry participation in skill development and employability initiatives.