SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Tuesday said that the State Government was focused on empowering the youth of the State with various skills and knowledge to attract investors from outside who are looking for capable and skilled manpower.
“With this goal in mind the State Government is looking towards developing state-of-the-art institutes which will be responsible in imparting the required skills and knowledge to the youth. This will also help to increase employability of our youth. We are confident of attracting investors from outside if our youth acquire the necessary skills,” the Chief Minister said while inaugurating the Mechanic (Motor Vehicle) Section of the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) here at Rynjah, which is a joint collaboration of the State Labour Department and Tata Motors Private Limited.
The Chief Minister also said that the State Government is creating this platform to empower the young and aspiring youth of the State who are capable of contributing effectively, productively for the growth of Meghalaya.
“The ITI centre is an offshoot of the commitment and endeavor of the State Government that began in 2012,” he said.
The Chief Minister encouraged the youth to take up entrepreneurship as a potential career and change the temperament of jobs in the region.
He also added that the government’s aim to empower the youth will not be restricted to the district headquarters but will be extended to all the blocks.
He also admitted that the Labour and other departments had targeted to provide skill development to about two lakhs youths of the State under the 12th Plan, Sangma but so far only 19,000 youth have been trained.
S Ramadorai, Chairman, National Skill Development Agency (NSDA), said that the training institute meant to serve the local youth of the region can nurture and provide various skills and knowledge which can further transform them into valuable human being of the society.
He said that the up-gradation of the institute will improve the employability factor of the region.
Labour Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh observed that the youth of the region can avail enough opportunities provided by the service providers and excel in their career.
She advised the department to lend a helping hand especially to the school dropouts, to train them and help them earn their living.
It may be mentioned that the Memorandum of Understanding was signed during the function by B Hajong, Director, Employment and Craftsmen Training on behalf of the Government of Meghalaya and SP Joshi, Consultant, Tata Motors, for Tata Motors Private Limited.