Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma urges SBI officials to promote entrepreneurs from weaker section of society

Shillong, April 27, 2019:

While addressing the 16th Annual General Meeting of the of the SBI SC/ST Employees Welfare Association, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said that if banks across Northeast have adequate manpower, it would be a contribution for the social empowerment of the indigenous people of the region.

Addressing the people, Conrad Sangma said that the absence of manpower in the banks poses a real hindrance for the people in Northeast and Meghalaya. He urged the SBI officials to ensure that adequate manpower is accorded to rural branches of the banks that would cater to the needs of the people.

Assuring to work for the welfare of SC/ST employees at the different platforms as and when the need arises, Conrad told the SBI officials to also ensure that indigenous people of the region were also given priority when they apply for loans to start entrepreneurial ventures.

The CM asked the SBI authorities that if any deserving indigenous people of the region approach banks to set up their own ventures, banks should help, assist and guide them. Banks should be in a position to take calculative risk to help the young boys and girls so that they are able to pursue their passion to start up entrepreneurial activities in the region.

He told the gathering that the Meghalaya government has started a number of initiatives to promote entrepreneurship in the State and is also likely to start incubation center to promote music and art.

The CM mentioned that the boys and girls of the region are talented in the field of music, so it is necessary to ensure that they are able to earn a living out of it.

Informing the gathering that a number of youths in Meghalaya have talent in the field of photography, but they were just doing it for passion due to the absence of guidance and a platform. He said that the government wants to ensure that such a group of people find a space to use their talent to earn a living for themselves.

Urging the officials of the banks to have “purpose driven” mindset, he said that it should be an incumbent responsibility on all of us to have the attitude to work an extra mile.

Notable, 42 percent workforce of SBI in the Northeast comprises of SC/ST employees.