SHILLONG : The Meghalaya Assembly’s Estimates Committee has asked the Labour Department to explore signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with various agencies to facilitate job placements for students graduating from Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the state.
The committee, headed by Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem, on Monday reviewed the functioning of ITIs in different parts of Meghalaya, including Shillong, Tura, Jowai, Williamnagar, Nongpoh, Ampati, Khliehriat and Mawkyrwat.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Syiem said the committee discussed the functioning of the ITIs with officials of the Labour Department, with particular emphasis on employment opportunities for students after completing their training.
“We had a review meeting with the Labour Department with regard to various ITIs in different parts of the state. We have instructed the department that after students join ITIs and graduate, the main issue is placement,” Syiem said.
He said the department should explore possibilities of entering into MoUs with different agencies to create placement opportunities for ITI graduates.
“We have instructed the Labour Department to explore possibilities of signing MoUs with various agencies for placement as this is very important with regard to employment for our young boys and girls who pass out from ITIs,” he said.
Syiem stressed that securing employment should be treated as a priority for students who complete their training at ITIs across the state.
Asked whether ITIs alone could address the issue of unemployment in Meghalaya, Syiem said tackling unemployment would require efforts from multiple sectors.
“In any state, not a single agency or a single factor can fulfil everything. ITI is one part of it,” he said.
He said attracting investment from outside the state to establish factories, industries and private-sector corporate houses could also contribute to employment generation.
Syiem also pointed to existing state government initiatives aimed at supporting entrepreneurs, including CM-Elevate and PRIME, saying such programmes form part of broader efforts to create employment opportunities.
“This is a culmination of efforts of all departments, not only ITI, and it will end up addressing unemployment. That is the endeavour of the government,” he said.