Shillong, Oct 17: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, today, attended the Valedictory Function of the State Level 2nd Edition of Chief Minister’s Youth Engagement Program 2026 at Lariti Auditorium Shillong.
Speaking during the occasion Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, said Meghalaya is a young State, and that is the strength of Meghalaya, “A young population becomes a demographic dividend only through investment,” he said elaborating on the approach of the government investing in youth and human capital.
“The Government is creating opportunities for youth across sectors. Investments in sports, the creative economy, music, entrepreneurship, arts, culture and youth mobilisation aim to build a future-ready, innovative and productive society,” he said.
Throwing light on the genesis of the program the Chief Minister said that observing the trend of the last two Meghalaya Games that were held he said that there needs to be more engagement among the youth within the state, nationally and also internationally.
On the Chief Minister’s Youth Engagement Program he said that the program connects youth from every block and exposes them to the rest of India and the world. He informed the program began in 2013 as the Youth Exchange Programme with a purpose of travel, cultural exchange, skill-building and networking relaunching it in 2025, the as CMYEP with an aim was to transform a selective exchange into a mass youth programme with a larger and enhanced budget.
“Previously limited to district headquarters, it now reaches all 56 blocks, giving youth from remote villages the same pathway as those from district headquarters,” he informed. Lauding the Sports & Youth Affairs Department and its officials on the success of the CMYEP he said, “It requires passion, a belief and determination to convert a thought process into a vision and a goal into reality.”
In his message to the thousands of youth participants from all the districts of the state the Chief Minister urged them to believe in themselves and also to believe in each other working together to take the state and the country forward, keeping the mind open to the endless possibilities that are there in the world. “These programs that we have is to ensure that you push yourselves,” he said and also assured that the CMYEP will be bigger and enhanced at the grass roots.
The Chief Minister also stressed that while though such programs the youth are engaged with each other it is also necessary that they should engage and involve themselves with the society. “The youth should engage with our farmers, self-help groups, volunteer at the anganwadi centres, hospitals, old age homes and engage with our elders, farmers, children, the society and the community,” he said.
Prizes were also distributed by the Chief Minister to the winners of some of the competitions held during the event. About 14,000 youth took part across 56 blocks in the CMYEP 2026. At district level, 2,400 youth are engaged, 200 from each of 12 districts, with 1,125 progressing to the State level.
480 youth received national exposure and 48 received international exposure. The Programme combines competition with participation with 13 events that include 8 competitive and 5 non-competitive events, accommodating varied talents and interests. Performances by the winning participants were the other highlights of the occasion.
