Shillong, August 25: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday lauded the active participation of the state’s youth in shaping society through the Chief Minister’s Youth Programme (CMYP). He was speaking at the Youth Mela organised at All Saints Cathedral, Shillong.

In his address, Sangma described the youth as the “driving force of change” across key sectors including tourism, agriculture, food processing, entrepreneurship and rural development. He noted that the government’s Vision Document provides a clear roadmap to strengthen the state’s economy by encouraging young people to assume leadership roles in business, enterprise, and community initiatives.

“Entrepreneurship is not limited to large enterprises alone. Even the efforts of a few individuals are equally important. If we exclude small entrepreneurs, our vision will remain incomplete,” the Chief Minister said, stressing that every contribution adds to Meghalaya’s growth story.

He also underlined that leadership should be seen as an exercise in empowerment rather than individual control. “Leadership doesn’t mean doing everything by yourself—it means empowering others to lead and work sincerely,” he stated.

Sangma commended the organisers of the CMYP for building what he called a “system of empowerment” that goes beyond one-off events to create institutional strength for sustainable growth. He further asserted that the programme has emerged as a key driver of positive change in the state.

Concluding his remarks, the Chief Minister assured that the government will continue to extend support to the youth of Meghalaya, whom he described as the “leaders of tomorrow.”