Altogether 2,000 youths have been trained in Information Technology through a programme by Meghalaya government and Singapore-based Symantec so far, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said today.
This was the first batch of trainees and most of them have been employed, Sangma informed the state Assembly.
The Information Technology department has completed its new building and additional facilities for training and capacity building have been created, he said.
"The government has also tied up with NIIT for providing IT skill up-gradation and empowerment to unemployed youth of the state free of cost," he added.
"The vision of the department is to fully participate in the IT revolution so as to usher in wealth creation, employment generation and prosperity to the citizens of the state," the chief minister said.
Under the National e-governance Plan, Common Service Centres, State Wide Area Network and State Data Centre have been completed and were expected to be operationalised soon, he said.
Sangma said construction work start for the National Institute of Technology at Sohra  (Cherrapunjee).
"This (NIT) is funded totally by the Centre with land being provided by the state government. An IT institute is also being set up for which land is being identified," he said.
Keeping in mind the scarcity of colleges in most of the districts of Meghalaya, model colleges were proposed to be set up in Jaintia Hills, East and South Garo Hills, Ri-Bhoi and West Khasi Hills, the chief minister said adding the arrangement would be based on tripartite mode involving the Centre, state government and a private party.