SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has underlined the need to move from a conventional system of education to one that promotes and facilitates entrepreneurship and enhances job avenues in all sectors.
Addressing the inaugural programme of the tourism and travel management department course at Lady Keane College here on Thursday afternoon, he said the challenge before the state and stakeholders lay in shaping the future of the new generation.
“The course for entrepreneurship should be a separate course,” he said.
“The young generation is ambitious and it is, therefore, important to leverage their potential to realise their dreams. It is also important that they look for the bigger enterprise opportunities in areas outside the government. The mindsets too therefore need to change,” he added.
As many as 40 young women comprise the first batch of the four-year course at the college. The chief minister appreciated the college for introducing a course that is designed to make the graduates “job providers” as against job seekers.
Partnering with the government
Reiterating the need for partnerships among institutions, Sangma proposed to the college to partner with the Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship (MIE) in facilitating the students of the professional course.
“Tourism blends well with sectors such as education and health. It has immense potential for a nature-endowed state such as Meghalaya. Here there is a need to inculcate the right perception in tourists and create diverse products that are high-end and custom made for a clientele which is ready to pay for quality,” the Chief Minister said.
“As a matter of fact, things are changing with tourism prospering over the years. Land and real estate is costlier than before. Hotel rooms are at a premium now. Health tourism too is prospering with patients from Bangladesh coming to Meghalaya for treatment,” he said.
He even went on to say that land in Shillong is costlier than lands in South European countries.
Sangma further said it was important that destinations attract tourists repeatedly. “Repeat visits indicate the success of a destination,” he said.
“The government is focusing on involving the community in tourism in a bigger way. We believe in community tourism, eco- tourism and towards this end are looking at developing potential circuits across the state,” he said.
Pursue education in the state
The Chief Minister pointed out students should utilise the available opportunities in the state instead of opting courses outside the state as there are elements of hatred overtaking the country and situation is vitiated as children are studying outside.
Stating that pursuing education outside the state is not conducive, Sangma said, “There is a need to create opportunities to pursue education in our state.”
In this connection, he said that the foundation stone of Shillong Engineering College would be laid adjacent to Shillong Polytechnic College at Mawlai, college of architecture and urban planning in Tura.