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�Investment on youth top priority�

By Correspondent

SHILLONG, Aug 18 � Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today said his Government�s top priority is in �restructuring its investment policy on human capital,� which, he added, is the way out for an all round accelerated development.

�With a population of over one billion, and youth forming a substantial chunk of this population, it is only prudent to restructure the investment policy in human capital,� Sangma said, after laying the foundation stone of Vivekananda Centre for Youth Counselling, here.

Sangma said India does seem to have an edge over China, as India�s youth population is three times greater than the Asian power house. �But only if these youths are given adequate support to make them productive, we can think of developing in all spheres,� Sangma told the gathering.

He informed that Meghalaya has set its sight on the youth and has therefore dedicated this year as the �year of the youth.� Several initiatives have been undertaken to encourage the youths of the State to take on productive ventures.

With white collared jobs being mostly unavailable, approval for the creation of the Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship was granted this year with an initial fund allotment of Rs 5 crore. �The employability factor of the youths is the top priority in designing the course of the new institute,� Sangma said.

The institute would train the youths in different vocational courses based on the current market trends. Sangma promised that more such institutes, where the youths can be given support for their overall development, would be set up throughout the State, soon.

In this connection, the Chief Minister was all praise of the Ramakrishna Mission, which has set up the Vivekananda cultural centre imparting vocational training. As of now, the cultural centre has trained 22,000 students in computer application during the past ten years.

Meanwhile, Secretary Ramakrishna Mission, Shillong, Swami Achyuteshananda said the new institute would provide career counselling and also address the psychological needs of the youth.

Earlier in April this year, Meghalaya Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary laid the foundation stone of an Employability and Entrepreneurship Training Centre at the Vivekananda Cultural Centre. The building is being built at an estimated cost of Rs 6 crore.

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