By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 2: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday highlighted the transformative impact of Meghalaya’s emerging concert economy while presenting a comprehensive overview of the government’s achievements during the inaugural session of the State Level Chief Minister’s Youth Engagement Programme 2025.
Sangma revealed that the state government had invested Rs 23 crore in concerts and music events last year, and generated Rs 133 crore in revenue.
He clarified that this income flowed directly to citizens – taxi drivers, food vendors, restaurants, homestays, tourist guides, and other service providers – rather than to the government.
Concerts, he said, are not just entertainment but a powerful driver of employment, branding, and economic activity.
Emphasising youth welfare, the Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to keeping young people away from drugs while expanding positive engagement avenues.
Citing India’s position as the world’s strongest talent-surplus nation, he stressed the importance of skill development. Multiple training programmes are underway, Sangma said.
With nearly 70,000 youth entering the workforce each year and only about 1,500–2,000 government jobs available, Sangma stressed the need for diverse employment-generation strategies.
He said that entrepreneurship, global placements, and business support initiatives will play a critical role in bridging this gap. Entrepreneurship remains a major focus area, with thousands of beneficiaries supported under PRIME and CM Elevate, he said.
Stating that nearly Rs 150 crore has been disbursed so far, he said the government has plans to release an additional Rs 350 crore within the next two to three years. He said youth can access these opportunities via the Meghalaya One Portal. Sangma encouraged participation in the “Yes Meghalaya Programme,” which provides up to Rs 2 lakh for youth clubs and organisations to undertake activities in sports, music, culture, and community development.
He added that “Hello Meghalaya” continues to serve as an effective platform for youth empowerment and creative expression.
The Chief Minister noted that Meghalaya’s growth rate hovered around 8 per cent in previous years but surged to 13.6 per cent and 12 per cent in the post-COVID period.
The state budget, which stood at Rs 9,000 crore in 2018, is expected to exceed Rs 30,000 crore in the current financial year—reflecting a sharp rise in developmental expenditure.
Government spending has increased substantially across departments. The state’s annual expenditure has grown from Rs 1,000 crore in 2018–19 to Rs 2,176 crore this year.
The Education Department’s budget rose from Rs 2,000 crore to Rs 3,600 crore, while the C&RD Department’s spending increased from Rs 783 crore to Rs 1,962 crore, signalling broad-based growth.
Reiterating his vision of a $10-billion economy, the Chief Minister said future progress will depend on identifying high-potential sectors while ensuring equitable growth so that all citizens benefit.
Tourism continues to be one of the strongest drivers of this expansion. Sangma said Meghalaya, particularly Shillong, has become one of the world’s most searched destinations, recording an 828 per cent rise in online interest, as per Skyscanner data.
He urged the youth to seize the opportunities being created, positioning themselves at the centre of Meghalaya’s growth story.
