The Meghalaya government on Wednesday launched four new skill development initiatives during Skillerate 2026 at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Shillong, with a focus on expanding employment, entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities for young people across the state.The programme was organised by the Department of Labour, Employment and Skill Development through the Meghalaya State Skills Development Society (MSSDS). Students, trainees, entrepreneurs, training partners and officials from different parts of the state attended the event.Chief Minister Conrad Sangma announced the launch of the four initiatives — PROPEL, MEGASKILL, SHIELD and EQUIP — under the Skills Meghalaya programme. Addressing the gathering, Sangma said the initiatives were aimed at strengthening the state’s skilling ecosystem and improving livelihood opportunities for the youth.
“Today we launched four major initiatives under Skills Meghalaya aimed at strengthening livelihoods, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for the youth of Meghalaya,” he said. According to officials, PROPEL has been designed as a post-training support programme to help trainees improve livelihood outcomes after completing their courses. MEGASKILL will create pathways for Meghalaya’s youth to participate in national and global skill competitions. The SHIELD initiative will focus on training, certification, placement and welfare support for skilled workers, while EQUIP has been introduced as an inclusive programme targeting vulnerable groups and communities. During the event, the government also distributed trade-specific toolkits to tour guides, plumbers, technicians and other skilled workers. Officials said nearly 21,000 trainees are expected to benefit from the initiative, involving an estimated investment of around Rs 24 crore.
The chief minister said the state government had invested close to Rs 80 crore in the Meghalaya Skills Programme over the past three years. He claimed the programme had generated nearly Rs 150 crore in earnings for trained youth through jobs, entrepreneurship and overseas placements. Sangma also highlighted international employment opportunities secured by Meghalaya youth in countries such as Japan and Singapore and thanked training partners for supporting the state’s skill development efforts.He encouraged trainees to remain committed and work towards building meaningful careers and stable livelihoods.Officials said Meghalaya continues to focus heavily on youth-centred development policies, with nearly 74 per cent of the state’s population below the age of 35 years.Under the Skills Meghalaya initiative, around 60,000 people have reportedly received training so far. Government data presented during the programme showed that more than 2,800 candidates secured jobs after training, while over 10,300 individuals moved into self-employment activities. The state currently has a network of 716 training providers and 35 career advisors operating across all 11 districts.