People who cherish their dreams and desire to translate them into reality have to first of all wake up from their deep slumber and then devote their time and energy until they succeed. At the initial stage of their struggle few will appreciate and some may even discourage them but many will ignore and pretend as if they do not exist at all. On the other hand, sizeable number of young people are lethargic and easy-going without any care at all for the future. In the end, the first category of people will achieve success in their endeavour whereas the second group will sink deeper until they deteriorate and become hopeless. Thomas Robert Gain said: “It is good to dream, but it is better to dream and work. Faith is mighty, but action with faith is mightier. Desiring is helpful, but work and desire are invisible”. Unemployment is becoming more acute, problems faced by youths are inumerable and challenges are plenty with each passing year. Only those possessing strong will and perseverance will succeed in the end while many fall easy prey to temptations and distractions. Books of Proverbs (12:24), Old Testament of the Holy Bible states, “Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave”.
Young people nowadays have different outlook on life and start charting their own independent course deviating from family traditions determined to succeed by overcoming all the risks and obstacles that come their way. They are no longer content in simply seeking regular jobs and earn easy income but courageously venture out to start their own business. Qualified and unemployed young boys and girls do not lose hope by spending their time in idle gossip but they too try to seek alternative avenues where they can apply their talent and energy so that in the long run they will succeed. Finally, from jobseekers they have become job-givers. Start-up India Scheme initiated by Central government in 2016 is one such opportunity in which enterprising youths can apply their knowledge and expertise by starting their own companies so that in the long run they can achieve their goal. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) organised a week-long event “Celebrating Innovation Ecosystem” in January 2022. Food processing, product development, application development, IT (Information Technology) consulting, and business support services have the largest number of start-ups. Government extends small business loans, easy access to funds and facilitates meetings with other entrepreneurs.
Meghalaya won ‘Best Performance’ award at the National Start up Ranking, 2021, in a felicitation ceremony in New Delhi on July 4, 2022. In all 24 states and 7 Union Territories (UTs) participated. Meanwhile, other Northeastern states including Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, as well as states and UTs including Puducherry, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Himachal Pradesh have been adjudged as aspiring leaders. Assam and Meghalaya have also ranked top in reform area of mentorship champion.