Shillong, June 9: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma on Saturday said that energy and enthusiasm that the youth has, need to be tapped and channelized in a right direction, while stressing that if policy makers can channelize those and use it in a constructive manner, it will create a whole lot of scope and opportunities for the state and the nation to grow as well.

The Chief Minister said this while delivering his address at the Computer and Language Trainees’ convocation at Ramakrishna Mission, Vivekananda Cultural Centre, here.

Congratulating the students who have successfully completed their courses, he urged upon the youth to start their own businesses and encouraged them to be job makers rather than job seekers.

“Such a move will change the whole perspective and the economic scenario of the State. There are no shortcuts, we have to take calculated risks in life and believe me, things will change. We might fail initially, and we might continue to fail, but we must not get discouraged by those and instead learn from it, and improve upon the failures, prepare a strategy and one day we will become successful,” he encouraged.

Conrad also informed the gathering that the state government has tied up with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to collaborate with Universities and Institutes to start Japanese language course and skill oriented training for the youth of the State, which can generate international employment opportunities.

During the programme, the Chief Minister handed over certificates and mementos to students who have completed their courses besides Desktops and Laptop Computers to eligible candidates who have completed a minimum of five courses and one course at the expert level in the institute.

The students who were awarded with computers will start a noble initiative of teaching computers to the locals at their respective localities and villages.

Principal, St. Mary’s College, Shillong, Dr. Sister Mary Harriet, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, Shillong, Swami Sarvabhutanandaji Maharaj, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, Sohra, Swami Anuraganandaji Maharaj and Asst. Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, Shillong, Swami Vedasaranandaji Maharaj was also present at the function.