Shillong ( Meghalaya ) , Feb 21 : Former Union Minister and MLA, Sachin Pilot while addressing a press conference here today stated that the BJP stands exposed. They were in power in Delhi and in alliance in Meghalaya what they refer to as a double engine government but have failed to deliver . Price rise , unemployment continue to be major issues in the state and the country.
He questioned that what has stopped the BJP and MDA government from addressing these issues? What stopped them from establishing more industries factories, manufacturing hubs and creating jobs in the state of Meghalaya.
The BJP and NPP are only interested in staying in power through the politics of manoeuvring but I am confident that the people of Meghalaya can see through this and they are aware and politically conscious to use their wisdom on 27 th February.
Going by our track record both in states and the center Congress governments have always delivered the promises we make. Congress has a long history of commitment and performance. We are committed to fulfilling the promises in our manifesto. He added that the the congress has fielded young and fresh candidates which includes many women candidates and added that this fresh team under the leadership of Vincent Pala will bring good governance to the state.
He stated that the congress gives opportunities to young people as seen from the 47 young candidates who are contesting from the congress party in the forthcoming assembly elections.
Taking a dig at the present government Pilot said that the NPP led MDA government and their alliance partner BJP have a lot to answer to the people of Meghalaya on the high rates of unemployment faced by the youth of Meghalaya. Both the NPP and BJP manifesto for 2023 have promised jobs for the youth but what were they both doing during the last five years?
In their 2018 manifesto NPP promised employment generation programs for the youth and today we are seeing some of the highest rates of unemployment in the state. So what has the government done in the past five years?
The high rate of Multidimensional poverty reveals that the people of Meghalaya have remained poor because of a lack of employment which leads to a lack of purchasing power and therefor poverty.
People of Meghalaya must remember that BJP and NPP make false promises if they could not generate employment in the last five years as promised in their old manifesto, they will never be able to fulfil the promises made in the new manifesto.
He said that the Congress party has always been focused on empowering the youth of the country and the state of Meghalaya. Having fulfilled its previous commitment to bring reputed educational and medical institutes like the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (NEIGRIMS), the party will now work towards setting up state level institutes of repute.
On education, Pilot said that the topic remains a serious concern in Meghalaya, the Gross Enrolment Ratio in 2019-20 for Meghalaya remains lower than the other North-Eastern states such as Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. While most are enrolled in primary school there is a steep decline in the gross enrolment ratio as they move to senior secondary school (XI and XII). It is important to ensure that our children get a good education and are well equipped to face the world as adults.
He said that Congress party will establish a dedicated State University with a special focus on job-oriented and market-ready courses such as IOT (Internet of Things), Block Chain Technology, IT and ITES. The government will also encourage high-quality private educationists and non- profit trusts to start professional, technical, and vocational courses in the state for the benefit of the student community and reclaim the old glory of Shillong as an educational hub of the North East.
The State has long been waiting to set up its own engineering and medical colleges which will be set in motion in a designated land which we had identified as has been the case before when the party was in power.
Pilot said that the Congress party will create one job for every household in Meghalaya through promotion of mass entrepreneurship. and Job opportunities will be improved in all sectors through better policies for farming, improved tourism and supporting the handloom sector.
To promote local artisans, craftsmen and weavers,the Congress party will establish a Handloom and Handicrafts Hub. To preserve traditional weaving practices and handicrafts, master craftsmen and women will be identified in every district who will provide hands on training to apprentice and novice craftsmen and women. This will help in preserving and promoting livelihoods in traditional handlooms and handicrafts and by providing training and technical assistance to traditional artisans and by developing market linkages we will also help our local artisans to sell their products at a profitable price.
On Digital Employment Linkage Platform , Pilot said that the party will create a digital employment linkage platform to facilitate online registration of all educated youths of the State and their profiles/CVs will be made accessible to both the public and private sector companies. This will help to provide job placements to hundreds of youths across various sectors. This platform will be in addition to the regular employment exchange.
This process of digital registration of educated youths will cater to the creation of one job for every household in Meghalaya through promotion of mass entrepreneurship.
Our vision. he said , for employing our youths emanates from what people think and believe needs to be done and we believe should be done and we shall do which is to not merely set up infrastructure such as IT park but by creating avenues to meaningfully engaging youths. Tourism
Pilot said the service industry forms the backbone of the tourism sector and the Congress party will develop a comprehensive plan through which local youths can be trained in the vocation of their choice as per as their educational and professional qualifications. We will get our youths trained in short-term courses to learn basic serving techniques (waiters, waitresses), cooking techniques (train novices to become trainee chefs/cooks), office executives, guest relation executives, housekeeping executives etc.
The party shall also include our traditional herbal massage therapies and Spas as part of promotion of our medicinal and natural herbal resources. Training centres for tour guides will also be a priority of our government.
Pilot added that the vision party is is to also create a conducive environment for our own state’s entrepreneurs andalso for external investors to thrive.
The Congress government will put in all efforts to promote “Brand Meghalaya” so that our entrepreneurs , start-ups and businesses can compete more strongly nationally and globally. Youth & Sports
We will set up a Sports Infrastructure Development Fund to provide financial assistance to sports clubs, organisations, and individuals for the construction and maintenance of sports facilities. The Government will also work with businesses and local communities to develop public-private partnerships for sports infrastructure development.
He also stated that the party will also increase the number of sports fellowships to provide financial assistance to upcoming Meghalaya athletes for their training and development. The Congress will also create a mentorship program to connect fellows with professional athletes to provide guidance and support to young athletes.
The party shall also establish an E-sports Development Program to promote the growth of e-sports in the State. The Program will provide funding and support for the organisation of e-sports tournaments and competitions in the most popular e-sports. This will give the youth of Meghalaya youth the chance to participate in professional e-sports tournaments at a national and international level.
He sated that the level of corruption of the NPP led MDA government of which BJP is a partner has been unprecedented. Because of the corruption at every level of governance employment opportunities in the state have been destroyed and the hopes and aspirations of the youth of Meghalaya have been dashed to the ground .
Stating that the Congress is the only party for Meghalaya , Pilot said that Congress was responsible for the creation of the state to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Meghalaya. We have always respected the uniqueness and diversity of the people of the state and implemented the sixth schedule for the protection of cultural diversity and security of the people of Meghalaya.
