During his maiden visit to Shillong, Vice-President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, extended a personal invitation to students and legislators of Meghalaya to be his guests at the new Parliament building, describing such visits as enriching experiences.
Addressing the gathering at the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the Meghalaya Skill and Innovation Hub and the launch of the CM Business Catalyst: Student B-plan Challenge in collaboration with IIM Shillong, the Vice President said, “Distinguished bureaucrats and most importantly, boys and girls, at the outset, let me extend an invitation to two categories. I will request the Honourable Chief Minister that, in batches, I would invite students to be my guests at the new building of Parliament. This is an ongoing exercise, and I get energised, enthused, motivated, and inspired when I interact with them in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat.”
He assured attendees that visiting the new Parliament building would be a lifetime experience, emphasizing its construction despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, which was completed in less than 30 months using old infrastructure. “Depicting our civilisational depth of 5,000 years, I am sure the batches will start coming from November. I will recruit an officer to coordinate with the Office of the Chief Secretary to ensure things run smoothly,” he added.
The Vice-President also invited Meghalaya’s legislators to visit Parliament, stating that such a visit would significantly enhance their understanding of governance. “I also take this opportunity—as I have done with some other northeastern states—to invite their legislators to be my guests. I am sure that the Chief Minister, Leader of the House, and, considering his father was a very illustrious Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and he himself has been in that theatre, along with the Governor, would appreciate the value. A visit by legislators to the Indian Parliament will make all the difference and add value to their work pattern.”
The event was attended by Governor C.H. Vijayashankar, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, and Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh. The Meghalaya Skill and Innovation Hub, to be constructed on 6.54 acres in New Shillong at a cost of ₹77.5 crore, will cater to youth through incubation, training, collaboration, and industry partnerships.
During his speech, Vice-President Dhankhar praised Chief Minister Sangma for initiatives aimed at nurturing the state’s youth. He highlighted the growing opportunities for women and tribal leaders in the country, citing the President of India and Meghalaya’s first female Director General of Police as key examples of India’s evolving growth trajectory.
Dhankhar also emphasized that the skill and innovation hub would play a crucial role in promoting entrepreneurship and boosting the state’s human resources. “Skilling of youth is the need of the time,” he said, acknowledging Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to open new avenues for young people through various skilling and startup programs. He informed the audience that ₹60,000 crore has been earmarked to skill 5 lakh youth over the next five years. “The empowerment of the youth will ensure a significant economic upsurge in the country,” he added.
Governor Vijayashankar spoke about Meghalaya’s rich resources and their potential to create opportunities for the state’s youth, while Chief Minister Sangma reiterated that Meghalaya’s young population is its greatest strength. “Eighty-five percent of our population is below the age of 45. The youth are our greatest strength and asset, and we have initiated programs that channelize their potential,” Sangma said.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the government’s efforts to support entrepreneurship and address manpower shortages through the skill and innovation hub. He pointed out that the state organizes business plan competitions and provides support to rural entrepreneurs through initiatives like CM Elevate, which offers financial subsidies and mentorship to budding entrepreneurs.