NewKerala.com

Meghalaya Launches 4 Key Skill Initiatives to Boost Youth Employment

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma launched four major skill development initiatives—PROPEL, MEGASKILL, SHIELD, and EQUIP—to boost employment and livelihood opportunities for youth. The initiatives were unveiled at Skillerate 2026 in Shillong, organized by the Department of Labour, Employment and Skill Development. PROPEL has a Rs 36 crore outlay to support 21,000 trainees, while MEGASKILL prepares youth for international skill competitions. The state has invested Rs 80 crore in skilling programs over three years, training over 50,000 youth.

Key Points: Meghalaya Unveils 4 Skill Programs for Youth Jobs

  • Four flagship initiatives launched: PROPEL, MEGASKILL, SHIELD, EQUIP
  • PROPEL has Rs 36 crore outlay to benefit 21,000 trainees
  • MEGASKILL targets WorldSkills Competition in Japan 2028
  • Rs 80 crore invested; 50,000+ youth trained in 5 years
2 min read

Meghalaya launches four major skill initiatives to strengthen employment, livelihood opportunities for youth

CM Conrad Sangma launches PROPEL, MEGASKILL, SHIELD & EQUIP to create employment & livelihood opportunities for Meghalaya's youth.

"Every year, around 60,000 young individuals enter the workforce. Therefore, creation of sustainable livelihoods and jobs is the most critical challenge for us. - Conrad K. Sangma"

Shillong, May 13

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday launched four major skill development initiatives aimed at strengthening employment, entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities for the youth of the state.

The initiatives were unveiled during Skillerate 2026 held at North-Eastern Hill University in Shillong.

The programme was organised by the Department of Labour, Employment and Skill Development in collaboration with Skills Meghalaya and the Meghalaya State Skill Development Society (MSSDS).

The four flagship initiatives launched under Skills Meghalaya are PROPEL, MEGASKILL, SHIELD and EQUIP.

Officials said PROPEL has been designed to support trained youth through startup toolkits, mobility assistance, salary augmentation, marketing support and industry linkages, with a total outlay of Rs 36 crore.

The programme is expected to benefit around 21,000 trainees.

MEGASKILL aims to prepare youth for participation in skill competitions from the district level up to international platforms, including the WorldSkills Competition, in Japan in 2028.

SHIELD focuses on structured training, certification and placement support in homecare services, while EQUIP seeks to promote inclusive skilling opportunities for differently-abled persons and vulnerable groups.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sangma said livelihood generation remains the government's "biggest challenge", particularly in a young state like Meghalaya where nearly half the population is aged below 20 years.

"Every year, around 60,000 young individuals enter the workforce. Therefore, creation of sustainable livelihoods and jobs is the most critical challenge for us," he added.

The Chief Minister said that Meghalaya adopted a state-led skilling model to address local requirements more effectively, adding that national programmes often need localisation and flexibility.

He also highlighted the role of externally aided projects supported by the Asian Development Bank in strengthening the skilling ecosystem.

According to Chief Minister Sangma, more than 50,000 youth have been trained in the state over the last five years, while nearly 30,000 have received certifications.

He said the state government has invested nearly Rs 80 crore in the Meghalaya Skills Programme over the last three years, which has generated an estimated Rs 150 crore in earnings for trained youth.

Labour, Employment and Skill Development Minister Methodius Dkhar said the launch of the four initiatives marked an important milestone in Meghalaya's skilling journey and reaffirmed the state government's commitment to youth empowerment.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

S
Sneha F
As someone from the Northeast, I really appreciate the focus on local needs rather than just copying central schemes. The SHIELD program for homecare services is smart—there's huge demand for trained caregivers. But I hope the implementation doesn't get bogged down in bureaucracy like many state schemes do. Let's see the ground reality in a year.
M
Michael C
Impressive numbers—50,000 trained and 30,000 certified over 5 years. The fact that trained youth have earned ₹150 crore is a tangible outcome. Chief Minister Sangma rightfully calls livelihood generation the "biggest challenge" when 60,000 young people enter the workforce annually. If the EQUIP program truly reaches differently-abled persons, that's a huge step toward inclusive growth.
P
Priya S
Finally a state that's thinking beyond just certificates! MEGASKILL aiming for WorldSkills in Japan 2028 is ambitious—love the global vision. But let's be honest: skill development alone won't solve everything. We need industry growth and job creation in the state too. Otherwise trained youth will just migrate to Bangalore or Delhi. Still, a positive step forward! 🙂
J
Jennifer L
The emphasis on state-led skilling model is crucial. National programs often don't account for local contexts, especially in states like Meghalaya with unique demographics and geography. Asian Development Bank's involvement adds credibility. However, I'd be curious about the drop-out rates and actual placement statistics beyond the certifications mentioned.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50