Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday attended Skillerate 2026 at Holly Hocks near BAKDIL Training Centre in Tura, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to strengthening skill development, employment generation and entrepreneurship opportunities for the youth of the State.
The programme was organised by the Department of Labour, Employment and Skill Development, Government of Meghalaya, in collaboration with the CM Skills Mission and the Meghalaya State Skill Development Society (MSSDS).
The event was also attended by Labour, Employment and Skill Development Minister Methodius Dkhar, who graced the programme as the guest of honour, along with the Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Vibhor Aggarwal, senior officials, training partners, beneficiaries, and stakeholders from the skill development ecosystem.
In his address to the gathering, Sangma said the programme reflected the larger vision of the Government’s CM Connect initiative, through which citizens directly communicate their concerns, aspirations, and suggestions to the Government. He stated that one of the recurring concerns raised by youth through CM Connect was the need for better opportunities in skill development, self-employment, and livelihood support.
The Chief Minister said that while Meghalaya had invested more than ₹32 crore in various skill development programmes benefiting thousands of youths, the Government realised that training alone was not enough.
“Many trained individuals told us that even after completing their courses, they lacked the basic tools and equipment required to begin working independently. An automobile technician may complete training successfully, but without a toolkit, opening a workshop or servicing vehicles becomes extremely difficult,” he said.
He added that the Government therefore decided to provide toolkits and start-up support so that trained youth could immediately become productive and self-employed. “This programme is not only about distributing toolkits. It is about creating dignity, confidence, and livelihood opportunities for our youth,” he remarked.
Highlighting Meghalaya’s economic progress, the Chief Minister said the State is today recognised as one of the fastest-growing economies in the country. However, he stressed that growth must remain inclusive and reach ordinary citizens.
“Economic growth alone is not enough if the benefits do not reach every household, every youth, every farmer, every worker, and every entrepreneur,” he stated.
He further observed that one of the important lessons learned by the Government was that skill training without proper support systems remains incomplete. “Earlier, many programmes focused only on training, but we realised that unless there is handholding, tools, market linkage, and employment support, the impact remains limited. We identified this as the missing link, and today’s initiative is aimed at addressing that gap,” he said.
The Chief Minister also spoke about the Government’s partnerships with private training institutions and stakeholders to strengthen the quality of skill development programmes. According to him, such collaborations have improved training infrastructure, introduced industry-oriented courses, and expanded opportunities for Meghalaya’s youth.
Beneficiaries and training partners also shared their testimonies during the programme, reflecting on the positive impact of various skill development interventions and employment-linked training programmes implemented under MSSDS and Skills Meghalaya.
A video presentation showcasing MSSDS’s initiatives and achievements was screened during the event.
During the programme, 34 work orders were distributed under Skills Meghalaya and Supporting Human Capital Development in Meghalaya (SHCDM) for the training of 4,830 trainees, with a total work order value of Rs 16,59,56,334.
Under Skills Meghalaya, 28 work orders covering 3,930 trainees, amounting to Rs 12,04,35,044, were distributed, while under SHCDM, six work orders covering 900 trainees, amounting to Rs 4,55,21,290, were distributed.
The average cost per trainee stands at Rs 30,645 under Skills Meghalaya, Rs 50,579 under SHCDM, and Rs 34,359 overall.
Start-up tools worth Rs 44,72,287 were also distributed to 798 beneficiaries across multiple trades and livelihood sectors to support entrepreneurship and self-employment initiatives. The distribution included start-up tools for various trades, including plumbing, automotive service, gardening, farming systems, masonry, mobile phone repair, and mushroom cultivation.