SHILLONG: The burning issue of unemployment dominated the proceedings of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on Tuesday with both ruling and Opposition members called for creation of jobs to address the concern.
Initiating the discussion after moving the motion, Mawlai MLA, PT Sawkmie said that the Central Government offices and institutes located in Meghalaya should be asked by the State Government to employ local people.
Similarly, Sawkmie said that local youths should also get employment in the central armed military forces which are located in Shillong.
Another mover of the motion, Mawphlang MLA, SK Sunn while quoting figures of unemployed youths from the Employment Exchange office in Meghalaya said that the number of unemployed youths in Khasi and Jaintia Hills region is around 35000 while the number of unemployed youths in Garo Hills region is around 3500
Sunn also said that many of the unemployed youths were even engineers and graduates.
Expressing concern over the unemployment scenario in the state, Congress MLA from East Shillong, Ampareen Lyngdoh felt that it was time to review all the skill development programmes while saying some of the programmes are irreverent for the youths in the state.
She also said that many of the coaching centres who are imparting coaching on different issues should be audited.
Umroi MLA, George Lyngdoh who also participated in the motion lamented that many of the Central Government officers and institutes were working with highhandedness in the states even as he stressed that the State Government should take a stock on how many local youths have been employed by the central institutes based in the state
“ICAR, CAU, NESAC are of no benefit barring a token of benefit,” he said while maintaining that many of the Central institutions show utter disregard to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution while operating in Meghalaya.
Congress MLA from Nongthymmai, Charles Pyngrope also lamented that youths who try to open their own venture have to run from pillar to post while availing loans from the banks.
Terming Meghalaya as a place where the God lives, Pyngrope said the state had all the potential to be the most sought after tourist destination.
Earlier, MLAs- Zenith Sangma, Lambor Malngiang, Thomas Sangma, saleng Sangma, Adelbert Nongrum and Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar beside others also participated in the discussion.
