Shillong, Dec 1 (Agency) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday inaugurated the first rural PRIME Hub at Songsak in East Garo Hills district aimed at skill development among the youth.
After formally opening the PRIME Hub at Fables Spark Hills, a skill training organization managed by Bakdil, a missionary social organization, Sangma said, “PRIME Hub is an initiative of the government to ensure skill based learning to the youth of the State”.
He informed that in the next few years, 50 such PRIME Hubs would be launched across the State that would cater to the needs of skill based education. The objective of Promotion and Incubation of Market Driven Enterprise or PRIME is to make entrepreneurship a preferred career choice for the youth of the State through creation of a dynamic and collaborative ecosystem that enables easy availability of credit, relevant technology, skilling and mentoring support and access to high leverage markets. Lauding the efforts of Bakdil for empowering self help groups (SHGs) and creating livelihood opportunities in over 2500 villages in the Garo Hills region, the Chief Minister expressed optimism that a collaborative approach with social organizations and government would go a long way in enhancing the livelihood and income generating activities of the people.
He expressed confidence that PRIME Hub under the leadership of Fr. Sunny Mavelil would cater to the local youth of Garo Hills in skilling them and ensuring them access to different job opportunities. Mentioning that 25 lakh people in Meghalaya are below the age of 20 years, the Chief Minister said, “It is a challenge for the government to create educational facilities, skilling institutes linked to job opportunities. However, we have prioritized this sector and PRIME Hub is one such initiative of the government to enable our youth access to different income generating opportunities. Sangma also said that through PRIME Hub, the government will accord thrust on promoting entrepreneurship and act as a facilitator to ensure that different activities are linked to opportunities as access to market and credit facilities are provided for setting up of enterprises.