Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on February 26 dismissed opposition claims that the state’s employment policies have failed, saying multiple job-creation programmes are delivering measurable results for young people. Speaking in the Assembly, Sangma defended government action on jobs and employment while acknowledging that more work remains to be done.
Responding to concerns raised by Trinamool Congress legislator Dr Mizanur Kazi, the Chief Minister pointed out that unemployment estimates vary across surveys. He cited the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which put unemployment at 6.0 per cent in 2022–23 and 6.2 per cent in 2023–24, and contrasted those figures with CMIE estimates of 3.1 per cent.
Sangma said roughly 3.66 lakh jobs have been generated in recent years and stressed that Meghalaya’s young demographic — with nearly half the population under 20 — requires sustained, long-term interventions. “Maybe we have not yet fully fulfilled the goal, but it is a process, and we are on the right track,” he told lawmakers.
Outlining key schemes, the Chief Minister said ₹140 crore has been sanctioned under the FOCUS scheme to 22,500 producer groups, benefiting about 2.1 lakh people, while the FOCUS+ programme has reached another 1.5 lakh beneficiaries. He also noted an overwhelming response to the CM‑Elevate programme, with 22,000 applications received within 20 days, forcing a temporary closure of the portal.
Sangma addressed the government’s decision to require basic proficiency in Khasi and Garo for certain public-sector posts and suggested a short language crash course for legislators to set an example. “It would be nice if we have some classes for MLAs — a crash course for 10 or 15 days,” he said, proposing mutual learning between regions.
Kazi had warned that mandatory language requirements could disadvantage unemployed youth in plain‑belt areas where training infrastructure is limited and urged provision of training and adequate preparation time. Sangma responded that the policy is not meant to exclude anyone and will focus on basic communication skills rather than literary proficiency: “If they cannot speak Garo and Khasi, it will affect service delivery… This is not meant to deprive anybody, but to ensure basic communication with the people we serve.”
On governance and education, Sangma pointed to recent cabinet decisions to teach Khasi and Garo in primary schools, with textbooks under development, and said grammar-related concerns could be examined. He added that employment exchanges are being digitised and highlighted the CM‑Connect platform as a tool for grievance redressal and scheme monitoring. “I assure the House that schemes and programmes will have greater impact in the days to come,” he said.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/meghalaya/story/meghalaya-cm-rejects-claims-of-job-policy-failure-says-employment-schemes-delivering-results-1352129-2026-02-26?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-02-26 19:08:00
