Shillong, May 12: The Meghalaya government will launch four major flagship skill development schemes aimed at strengthening employment, entrepreneurship, international exposure, and social inclusion during Skillerate 2026, to be held at NEHU on May 13.
The event is being organised by the Meghalaya State Skill Development Society (MSSDS) under the Department of Labour, Employment and Skill Development, Government of Meghalaya.
The initiatives seek to bridge gaps between training and livelihood generation while positioning Meghalaya as an emerging hub in India’s skilling ecosystem.
A key highlight is the launch of PROPEL (Post-training Resources for Occupational Progress and Enhanced Livelihood), a post-training support scheme designed to help trained youth transition into sustainable employment and self-employment. Officials said that although thousands of beneficiaries have received skill training under various government programmes, many continue to face barriers such as lack of financial resources, tools, mobility, and market access, preventing them from converting their training into stable livelihoods.
To address this challenge, the government has proposed a comprehensive support package that includes Rs 36 crore for start-up tools for 21,000 trainees, Rs 3 crore for mobility support to placed candidates, Rs 10 crore for salary augmentation support, and Rs 1 crore for marketing and industry linkage initiatives. The scheme aims to maximise the long-term impact of skill development investments and improve livelihood sustainability among skilled youth across the state.
The government will also launch MEGASKILL (Meghalaya Excellence in Global Arena through Skills for International Learning & Leadership), a flagship initiative aimed at preparing Meghalaya’s youth for participation in the WorldSkills Competition 2028 in Aichi, Japan. The programme will establish a structured pathway beginning with district-level competitions across multiple trades, followed by state, regional, and national rounds.
Under the scheme, top performers will receive cash awards, advanced training opportunities at specialised institutions, and full state sponsorship if they qualify to represent India at the international competition in Japan. Officials said the initiative is expected to enhance employability, promote skill excellence, and provide Meghalaya’s youth with global exposure while strengthening the state’s contribution to India’s national skilling ecosystem.
Another major intervention to be unveiled is SHIELD (Skilled Homecare Initiative for Employment & Livelihood Development), which seeks to professionalise caregiving and home support services. The scheme has been designed as a skill, livelihood, and service-delivery initiative that introduces structured training, certification, identity verification, fair wages, welfare safeguards, and regulated service agreements for caregivers.
The government said the initiative aims to tap into the rapidly expanding care economy driven by demographic changes, migration, women’s workforce participation, and changing household structures. Under the scheme, caregivers will be placed through demand-driven systems managed by third-party administrators under MSSDS oversight, with flexible employment options including short-term and long-term assignments, residential and non-residential services, and full-time or part-time work models.
Officials said the initiative could create employment opportunities for Meghalaya’s youth both within India and in regulated overseas care markets in the future.
The fourth scheme, EQUIP (Equal Quality Inclusive Program), focuses on building an inclusive and equitable skilling ecosystem for vulnerable and marginalised groups.
The programme will cover children in need of care and protection, youth exiting institutional care under Mission Vatsalya, persons with disabilities across all 24 recognised categories, inmates in correctional institutions, residents of rehabilitation centres and halfway homes, as well as domestic workers and other marginalised labour groups.
According to the government, the scheme aims to improve employability, support rehabilitation and reintegration, and promote self-reliance among vulnerable sections while ensuring that they are not left behind in Meghalaya’s economic growth trajectory.
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