From Our Correspondent
SHILLONG, Oct 17: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Tuesday in a bid to tackle the issue of unemployment launched the flagship programme- CM Elevate to encourage and leverage entrepreneurial activities by supporting 20,000 beneficiaries with an amount of Rs 300 crores in the upcoming five years.
The programme in West Jaintia Hills also had in attendance legislators Wailadmiki Shylla, Santa Mary Shylla and Lahkmen Rymbui.
“We have come up with a policy to promote entrepreneurship to tackle the issue of unemployment. Our policy intervention today will have a significant impact in resolving the issue of job creation in next 10-15 years,” he said, while emphasising
that programmes like PRIME and CM – Elevate will handhold, train and empower the youth to be engaged in productive activities.
Over 70,000 youth enter the workforce every year and it was imperative on the Government to design policy that would enable them to be absorbed in the ‘job market’, Sangma hopefully stated.
“The demand for jobs is huge and it is not possible for the Government to readily absorb everyone. Close to 1500 people are employed in the Government sector through Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) and District Selection Committees (DSCs),” he said, while highlighting the importance of creating an ecosystem of entrepreneurship culture that would push and drive the economy.
Under CM – Elevate, interested entrepreneurs can apply for different ventures that would promote tourism, agriculture, entertainment and other social sectors. Under the scheme, the State Government would provide grant and subsidy of up to 75 percent and rest will be linked through bank loan.
Sangma informed that in the next five years through CM – Elevate, the Government has set a target to create over 50,000 plus jobs in the state in the entrepreneurship sector.
Terming that the State’s young population is the strength, he further said that programmes like YESS Meghalaya gives opportunity for the youth to be engaged in productive activities that ensure that their positive energy is channelized into constructive and meaningful engagements.
The government has conceptualised CM – Elevate to address the issue of unemployment and create an enabling environment for job creation.
“In last one year, 1155 youth organisations have been supported by the Government and we will continue to support our youth through this programme”, he informed.
Speaking on the occasion, MLAs Santa Mary Shylla, Waladmiki Shylla and Lahkmen Rymbui were all praises on the Chief Minister for being a visionary and willing to uplift the youth through such innovative opportunities.