SHILLONG, Aug 12: Joining the global celebrations of International Youth Day 2022, the state government on Friday launched the Youth Engagement through Empowered Youth Organisations (YESS) programme for Garo Hills region, and disbursed Rs. 29.60 lakh among local youth organisations.
According to a statement, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who launched the initiative during an event in Tura, said that the YESS programme will give freedom to the youths to excel without any financial or societal constraints.
“I strongly believe that it the youth which will lead Meghalaya and India towards progress and prosperity. YESS is an effort to empower the youth organisations, clubs and associations across Meghalaya. The key objective of this government is to provide opportunities to the youth with potential in abundance,” the chief minister said.
During the programme, which was attended by 2,000 youths from across Garo Hills, financial aid of Rs. 29.60 lakh was distributed among 61 local youth organisations to conduct various programmes for youth development, focusing on activities concerning youth-related issues and solutions.
An additional Rs three lakh was provided to 61 medalists in various sports events held in Meghalaya.
It may be mentioned that the YESS programme has been formulated in pursuance of the State Youth Policy notified in 2021 which outlines the commitment of the state government towards youth engagement, empowerment, and rejuvenation.
The broad objectives of YESS include empowerment of youth clubs and organisations for planning and implementation of grassroots level programmes and activities pertaining to key themes affecting the youth, besides positively channelising their energies through empowered youth bodies, enhancement of youth development ecosystem by promoting effective collaboration with key stakeholders in the state and creation of an annual corpus fund for extension of financial support to registered non-profit youth clubs, organisations and associations.
CM launches transit home near Tura
The chief minister, during his visit to Garo Hills, also inaugurated the transit home under the Chief Minister’s Safe Motherhood Scheme (CMSMS) at Assanggre under Rongram C&RD Block in West Garo Hills.
Conrad inaugurated the facility in the presence of North Tura MLA Thomas A Sangma, Asananggre MDC Anseng A Sangma, among other officials.
Addressing the gathering, the chief minister informed that the maternal and infant mortality rate in the state was higher than the national average in 2018. “However, with the implementation of the CMSMS, different facilities can now be pushed through the functioning of transit homes and the over-all health of the mothers will be improved by reducing the maternal and infant mortality rates,” he said.
The chief minister also informed that the government has earmarked Rs 350 crore to upscale health services in the state.
“In the operation of transit homes in the state, communities and the self-help groups will be involved to increase institutional deliveries,” he added.