A CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, on Monday, inaugurated the first rural 'PRIME Hub' at Songsak in East Garo Hills in presence of Advisor to Chief Minister Thomas A Sangma, Government Chief Whip MarcuiseMarak, Siju-Rongara MLA RakkamSangma and Rongjeng MLA Jim Sangma.
Inaugurating the PRIME Hub at the 'Fables Spark Hills' — a skills-training organization managed by Bakdil, a missionary social organization, Chief Minister Sangma said that PRIME Hub is an initiative of the government to ensure skills-based learning to the youth of the State.
He informed that in the next few years, 50 such PRIME Hubs will be launched across the State that would cater to the needs of skills-based education.
The objective of PRIME (Promotion & Incubation of Market Driven Enterprise) is to make entrepreneurship a preferred career choice for the youth of the State through the 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 SHGs (Self Help Groups) and creating livelihood opportunities in over 2500 villages of Garo Hills, the Chief Minister said that a collaborative approach with social organizations and government will go a long way in enhancing the livelihood and income generating activities for the people.
He expressed confidence that PRIME Hub under the able leadership of Fr. Sunny Mavelil will cater to the local youth of Garo Hills in skilling them and ensuring them access to different job opportunities.
Informing 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 prioritised this sector; and PRIME Hub is one such initiative of the government to enable our youth to access to different income generating opportunities."
He also said that through PRIME Hub, the government will accord thrust on promoting entrepreneurship and also 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 such enterprises.