By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 10: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman began her four-day official visit to Meghalaya on Thursday with a series of engagements in Shillong, focusing on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and urban infrastructure development.
Accompanied by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and others, Sitharaman chaired an interactive session of the North East Roundtable under the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (PMIS), where she interacted with interns, industry leaders and officials from various states of the region.
She highlighted that the PMIS was launched with the vision of empowering young individuals who have never had formal employment or assignment experience, helping them gain essential skills and workplace exposure.
“This programme is designed to help you join reputed companies, understand professional environments, and enhance your career prospects. I’m happy to see many of you making the most of this opportunity,” she said while addressing an interactive session of the North East Roundtable under PMIS.
The session included interns, industry representatives, and senior officials from various states to review the scheme’s progress and gather firsthand feedback.
Sitharaman also encouraged those interested in entrepreneurship, assuring them of full support and guidance from the Ministry.
“Even though the scheme wasn’t initially aimed at fostering entrepreneurship, it’s inspiring to see how it has sparked that ambition among many of you. The Government and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs are committed to scaling up this initiative. I urge all interns to complete their courses and become brand ambassadors of PMIS so that more youth can benefit,” she said.
Highlighting the importance of mentorship, especially as the day coincided with Guru Purnima, she said, “Mentors you meet during your internships may play an important role in shaping your future.” Encouraging entrepreneurial aspirations, she urged interns to explore business opportunities and assured them of continued support from the government. She also called upon the interns to become “brand ambassadors” for the scheme.
During the roundtable, several interns from different Northeastern states shared their experiences, aspirations, and the transformative impact of the programme.
Khlainkupar Lyngkhoi, an intern from East Khasi Hills, currently working in the Human Resources department at REC Limited, said the experience has boosted his confidence and equipped him with workplace skills.
“Time management is one of the key skills I’ve learned. I’m handling multiple responsibilities, and I’m grateful to the Ministry and the Government for this opportunity, which will benefit us in the long run,” he shared.
He also expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Union Finance Minister for making such schemes accessible to youth from remote areas.
Over the coming days, Sitharaman is scheduled to attend various programmes and interact with stakeholders and beneficiaries to assess the progress of developmental initiatives in the region.
