Tura, Mar 29 (Reporter) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Saturday said that young minds should be encouraged to provide solutions to problems through the use of science and technology. Speaking at the National Science Day 2025 and the inauguration of Digital Planetarium at NEHU Tura Campus in West Garo Hills district, Sangma said, “Pose a challenge to our youth to come up with solution to different problems,” adding that these challenge will enable them to come up with ideas that would prove beneficial to the society. Citing an instance of a problem related to irrigation, he said, “If the youth are encouraged to study the problem, they may come up with a solution, which will benefit our farmers. It may be a sensor–signal–based or solar-powered solutions… maybe… we should believe and trust in their ideas.” The Chief Minister also said that based on challenges, different categories of students should be supported from school to university level. He said that science and mathematics competitions should be held with increased prize money, which will motivate our younger generation. “If a young mind wants to develop an idea, it will prove to be beneficial. We as a government should support that idea, if required, we should fund it and ensure that a prototype is developed,” he added, while informing that education in science and technology will ensure that we have a generation of people who will be willing to innovate and move the nation forward. Informing on the vision of the state, the Chief Minister said that different verticals have been identified by the government to ensure investments for promoting youth-related interventions. He said that the government has been heavily investing in the youth with a purpose, to ensure that the youth of this state are future ready. “India is a young nation, and Meghalaya is even younger. The majority of the population in Meghalaya is below the age of 20 years, and with over 6 lakh population above 45 years of age. Considering the strength of our young population, the government has made systematic investments to channelize the positive energy of the youth,” the Chief Minister said. “It is important for us as a state to realise this demographic structure, and invest in our youth. As a government we want to nurture our youth, and invest in them,” he added. He further informed on intervention in sports and music, which has been initiated by the government. “All our programmes, including activities to promote music, sports and communication for our young people, are based on the vision of our state, to capitalize on the potential of our young people,” the Chief Minister underscored. He also informed that as per the mandate of the NEP, all government colleges and higher secondary schools in the state will promote the introduction of science stream, including multi-disciplinary courses. “Our vision is to ensure that we have innovative minds to lead the state in future”, he added. Terming that children in Meghalaya have an instinct toward music, he said, “If children are introduced to music to learn, they will learn better’. He also took the opportunity to inform about the Meghalaya Grassroot Music Project (MGMP), which has encouraged young musicians to come out and showcase their talent and earn a livelihood. “In the last three years, through MGMP, we have supported over 3000 artists in the state, and have released over Rs18 Crore funds,” he added. During the programme, he also interacted with participants, who displayed different models that aimed to provide solutions to growing traffic, a solar-powered signal for flood alarm, a solution for ambulances to pass through elevated roads, signal for narrow turns, etc. Later he visited the Digital Planetarium at NEHU Tura campus and inaugurated the newly constructed project in the presence of Speaker Thomas A. Sangma, and other dignitaries...////...