Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday launched Skillerate 2026 at NEHU, Shillong, unveiling four major initiatives aimed at strengthening the state's skill development ecosystem and expanding employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people.
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 include PROPEL, which will support trained youth through startup toolkits, mobility assistance, salary augmentation, marketing support and industry linkages.
MEGASKILL, designed to prepare youth for competitions from district to international levels, culminating in participation in the WorldSkills Competition in Japan in 2028.
SHIELD, focused on structured training and dignified employment in homecare services; and EQUIP, aimed at promoting inclusive skilling opportunities for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
Under PROPEL alone, the government has allocated Rs. 36 crore, including Rs. 21 crore for startup toolkits expected to benefit 21,000 trainees, Rs. 3 crore for mobility support, Rs. 10 crore for salary augmentation, and Rs. 1 crore for marketing and industry linkages.
Addressing the gathering, Sangma described skill development as one of the government's most critical priorities, emphasising that livelihood creation remains Meghalaya's biggest challenge.
"Meghalaya is a young state, where nearly 50% of our population is below the age of 20. Every year, approximately 60,000 young individuals enter the workforce. This number is expected to grow further in the coming years. Therefore, the creation of sustainable livelihoods and jobs is, and will continue to be, the most critical challenge for us as a government," he said.
Explaining the need for a state-led skilling model, the Chief Minister said national programmes often require local adaptation.
"We have found that state-specific needs sometimes require more focused and tailored interventions. This is why we decided to design our own skill programme-one that is funded by us, tailored to our requirements, and flexible enough to evolve as needed," he said.
Sangma also acknowledged the support of development partners, noting that nearly half of the programme's funding comes from an externally aided project supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Addressing concerns over such funding, he clarified, "Nearly 80% of this funding is repaid by the Government of India. The financial burden on the state is minimal, while the benefits are substantial and visible."
Highlighting the impact of the programme, he said thousands of youth across Meghalaya have already benefited from skill training and employment opportunities.
"Because of these externally aided projects, thousands of our youth have been trained. These are real, tangible outcomes-transforming lives, creating opportunities, and generating employment," he said.
The Chief Minister said the government's skilling approach is designed to accommodate the diverse aspirations of young people.
"Our youth have diverse aspirations. Some wish to remain in their villages and work close to home. Some aspire to move to cities within the country. Others aim to work abroad. Each of them, however, seeks a dignified livelihood," he said.
Citing successful placements, Sangma said around 19 trained tourism professionals have secured jobs at JW Marriott in Mumbai, while nearly 30 nurses trained in Japanese language are currently working in Japan.
"Our objective is clear: to ensure flexibility so that every youth can choose their own path, while avoiding forced migration for employment," he added.
Speaking about the newly launched toolkit support initiative, he said it addresses a critical gap identified through feedback from beneficiaries.
"We realized… that while skill training and certification were being provided, many beneficiaries lacked the necessary tools and support to effectively use their skills for livelihood generation. This programme is a direct response to that gap," he said.
He added that specialised toolkits would be distributed based on trade requirements, including for tour guides, plumbers and technicians, with an estimated ₹24 crore earmarked for toolkit distribution.
Sangma also highlighted the scale of public investment in the sector.
"In addition, approximately Rs. 40,000 is spent by the government per trainee. Over the last three years, around Rs. 80 crore has been invested in the Meghalaya Skills Programme. This investment has generated an estimated Rs.150 crore in earnings by trained youth," he said, calling skilling "an investment that is delivering returns."
Reaffirming the government's commitment to dignified work, he said, "We strongly believe in the dignity of labour. There is no job that is small or big. Every form of work is important, and every individual deserves respect for the work they do."
He also stressed the importance of collaboration in implementation.
"The government acts as a facilitator-we provide policy support, funding, and ecosystem creation. However, implementation is carried out by training partners and other stakeholders," he said, acknowledging the contributions of more than 150 training partners across the state.
Labour, Employment and Skill Development Minister Methodius Dkhar described the launch of the four initiatives as an important milestone in Meghalaya's skilling journey and reaffirmed the government's commitment to empowering youth.
"Today is a special day as we launch these four programmes," he said, adding that the strong presence of young participants reflected the promise and potential of Meghalaya's next generation.
"When I look at our youth, I see hope for Meghalaya. I see ambition, talent, and the potential of future entrepreneurs," Dkhar added, stressing that skill development is not only about employment but also about confidence-building and opportunity creation.
In his welcome address, MSSDS CEO Dr. Vijay Kumar D outlined the progress of Meghalaya's skill ecosystem, highlighting the transition to a state-led skilling mission in 2021 under the Chief Minister's leadership.
He noted that nearly 150 local training partners are now working across the state, alongside a digital skills portal, and that over 50,000 youth have been trained in the last five years, with nearly 30,000 receiving certification.
The event also featured the distribution of work orders under Skills Meghalaya and startup tools to beneficiaries to support entrepreneurship and self-employment.
A short film showcasing the achievements of MSSDS was screened during the programme.
Skillerate 2026 marks another significant step in Meghalaya's ongoing efforts to strengthen human capital, promote entrepreneurship, and connect youth with meaningful livelihood opportunities.
Chief Electoral Officer Dr. B.D.R. Tiwari, Commissioner and Secretary Matsiewdor War Nongbri, senior government officials, industry stakeholders, trainees, entrepreneurs, and beneficiaries from various skill development initiatives were also present at the programme.