Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar laid the foundation stone of the Meghalaya Skill and Innovation Hub at Mawdiangdiang in New Shillong on Wednesday.

In his speech, the Vice President said that skill is neither discovered nor innovated, it is in fact the optimal exploitation of talent of a person in that specified field which gives the human resource a qualitative cutting-edge. He underscored, “Skilling is no longer a quality, it is our need, it is our daily need.”

Dhankhar also highlighted the formation of a dedicated Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and allocation of 60,000 crores towards internship of 5 lakh young individuals over a period of five years, adding that villages and semi-urban towns must be hub of skill centres.

He remarked that the North-East is significant contributor to unity, economic progress and cultural essence of the nation and lauded the Look East and Act East policies which have resulted in exponential growth in communication, connectivity and development of airports in the region.

“North-East is on the radar of nation’s development”, the Vice President said.

C.H. Vijayashankar, Governor of Meghalaya, Conrad K Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr. Mazel AmpareenLyngdoh, Cabinet Minister, Donald Phillips Wahlang, Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Meghalaya and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.