By Kitdor Manik Hynniewta
People like Ngaitlang Dhar, who recently established a plywood factory in the Jaintia Hills, deserve appreciation for his vision and commitment towards the State’s growth. This would also mean employing the youths of the region. Beyond investment and business, his expressed desire to prioritise the employment of locals of the region reflects a meaningful step towards strengthening Meghalaya’s economy from within.
Employment should not merely mean filling vacancies. It should mean strengthening the local economy, empowering families, and creating dignity within communities. When locals are employed, the money they earn is spent locally — in our shops, markets, transport systems, food businesses, homestays, and small enterprises. One salary supports many others. This is what economists call a circular economy, where money continues to circulate within the state, creating opportunities for more people rather than flowing outward.
More importantly, local employment reduces the painful migration of our youth to distant cities in search of livelihoods. Every year, thousands leave home carrying dreams and burdens alike, often working in unfamiliar and difficult conditions far away from their families. Many do not leave because they want to, but because they feel they have no choice. If opportunities are created here at home, perhaps more of our youth can build their future while remaining connected to their roots, culture, and communities.
At the same time, this should never be seen as a call for discrimination against those from outside the State. Growth becomes stronger when people work together, and experienced professionals from different parts of the country can also contribute immensely through knowledge sharing, mentorship, and hands-on skill development that will ultimately benefit our local workforce and strengthen Meghalaya’s future.
Meghalaya, like the rest of India, will continue to need investors, expertise, and partnerships from across the country and beyond. Economic growth thrives on openness and collaboration. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has repeatedly emphasized the importance of strengthening local economies. During his appeal for Indians to “travel within India” and promote domestic tourism, the larger message was clear: when people invest locally, spend locally, and support local ecosystems, the nation as a whole benefits.
The same principle applies here in Meghalaya. If tourism, hospitality, and investment are growing in our state, then the benefits of that growth must also reach our local youth and economy.
Of course, one common concern often raised is that local youth may not possess the required skills or experience. It is a fair concern. But it is also important to acknowledge a larger national reality. Several reports over the years have pointed out that a significant percentage of Indian graduates are not fully job-ready. According to the India Skills Report and various employability studies, only around 45–50% of graduates in India are considered employable in industry-ready roles. This means the problem is not unique to Meghalaya — it is a national challenge.
So the real question is: when will young people become skilled if no one is willing to train them or give them a first opportunity?
Every experienced professional was once inexperienced. Skills are not magically inherited; they are developed through guidance, exposure, patience, and opportunity. Instead of constantly searching for “experienced” workers from elsewhere, we should invest in building the capacity of our own youth. A little training, mentorship, and confidence can go a very long way.
This is especially relevant in the hospitality sector, where Meghalaya has enormous potential. The government’s efforts to attract investment into tourism and hospitality are commendable and necessary. Tourism can become one of the strongest drivers of employment in our state. However, investment alone should not be the final goal. The real success of investment should be measured by how many local youth are trained, employed, and empowered because of it.
This is where government departments, particularly those dealing with employment and skill development, must become active stakeholders in investment agreements. Investors should be encouraged not only to build hotels or businesses, but also to invest in skilling local youth and prioritizing them in recruitment.
Take Sohra as an example. It is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country today, filled with homestays, guesthouses, and hotels. Across these establishments are local youth who have learned hospitality not from prestigious institutes, but from experience, observation, resilience, and hard work. Many of them perform exceptionally well despite never attending hotel management schools.
And honestly, hospitality is already deeply rooted in the nature of our people. The warmth with which tourists are welcomed in Meghalaya is something visitors often remember long after they leave. That human connection, kindness, and sincerity cannot always be taught in classrooms. It is already present in our communities.
So why should we constantly “import” human resources when we already possess capable local talent?
What many of these youth need is not replacement — but refinement. A little training here, some exposure there, and they are more than capable of handling professional responsibilities.
I have personally witnessed young people managing entire properties with six or seven rooms almost single-handedly — handling reception, guest coordination, breakfast preparation, housekeeping supervision, and customer support — while still maintaining excellent reviews on platforms like Airbnb. These are not theories or assumptions. They are realities happening quietly around us every day. When we connect all these dots, the picture becomes clear.
Local employment means empowered youth. Empowered youth means stronger families. Stronger families mean stronger communities. And when money earned in Meghalaya is spent in Meghalaya, the state economy grows stronger from within.
At the end of the day, this is simply a personal reflection — a hope that growth and development should not remain concentrated in the hands of a few, but should create opportunities where everyone gets a fair share of the cake.
