Shillong, December 2 : The State-level Chief Minister’s Youth Engagement Programme 2025 is underway today at the Convocation Hall, NEHU Campus, Shillong, and will continue until 5th December 2025. A huge number of youthsturned up at the program which gave them the opportunity to integrate and share their unique stories, and get a platform to express themselves through arts, sports, innovation, science and technology.
Conrad K. Sangma, Chief Minister, Government of Meghalaya, engaged the youth by giving a presentation on the initiatives taken by the state government such as skilling, hospitality training, entrepreneurship, the Drug Reduction, Elimination and Action Mission (DREAM)program, CM-MGMP, YESS Meghalaya, CM Elevate, PRIME, sports and the ongoing initiatives for the National Games, and the state’s progress with developmental infrastructures coming up in New Shillong Township.
He said, “The idea is to keep our youth engaged, keep our youth busy, while we are having the youth exchange program. These programs we are having with the youth, these are transformational programs. And once that phase gets over, we are looking at the phase where we will then reap the benefits of the foundations that lay the transformation that has been done. Then the final growth that will take place, and the aspiration to finally take the exponential growth in the days to come.”
About the international youth exposure, the Hon’ble Chief Minister said that 48 participants will be selected for a trip to Philippines and Malaysia. About 500 participants will be selected to represent at the National level.
Wailadmiki Shylla, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Meghalaya, said, “Meghalaya is the only state which has the youth engagement program at the Block Level. We want our youth to come forward, to explore and to try new things. From here, the winner will participate in the national level youth festival, and the runners-up will go to the Northeast youth festival. And there is also a national and an international exposure. So, I urge all of you please take the opportunity given to you.”
Isawanda Laloo, Secretary, Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Meghalaya said, “We are extremely lucky to have seen the inclusion of the Block Level competition for the very first time. So, all of you have come here after having participated in the block level, district level, state level which is being held today and from here a few of you will go and spread your wings and represent the state at the North East event, national event and also get a chance to travel outside the country and to experience diverse cultures.”
Two participants shared their experiences : TrewasaraHadem, 2023 batch, who went on an exposure trip to Indonesia and Jason Wahlang who was part of an exposure trip to Vietnam in 2025. They fondly recalled the stories, the meaningful cultural exchange they came across, the interactions they had with the people.
The CM-Youth Engagement Programme is an initiative to celebrate young talent and creativity empower the youth by embarking on a cultural exposure, leadership roles, nurture youth’s innovation in science and technology, and to take pride in the state’s folk traditions.
The initiative is designed to nurture the young minds and become ambassadors of the state at national and international platforms. Through the CM-YEP, young minds can express themselves through a wide range of platforms such as solo and group competitions including poetry writing, story writing, painting, declamation, guitar, folk songs, folk dance, innovation in science and technology, and quiz contests.
The revamped Chief Minister’s Youth Engagement Programme (CM-YEP) 2025 is being initiated for a statewide celebration in 56 blocks and 1 Administrative Headquarter. Through CM-YEP, youths overcome stage fright and gain confidence, giving the best they can offer in sports, traditional and modern music, painting, science and innovation. CM-YEP is an opportunity for the youth to take their talent at the global stage and take the experiences to their respective hometowns.
