Twenty-seven nurses from Meghalaya have been offered employment opportunities in hospitals and care homes across Japan, following their participation in the state government’s Overseas Nursing Job Fair held last year.
These nurses received Japanese language training under the "Skills Meghalaya" initiative, enabling them to secure these positions.
The selection process began with the Overseas Nursing Job Fair in August 2023, which saw an overwhelming response with over one thousand registrations from across the state.
Through the "Skills Meghalaya" scheme, these nurses successfully obtained placements.
The initiative, driven by the Meghalaya State Skill Development Society (MSSDS), aims to equip the youth with additional skills and facilitate overseas employment opportunities.
At an event held to honor the selected nurses, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma praised their dedication and highlighted the significance of this achievement.
“It is great to see nurses from the state move out and serve people overseas. We are sending them with blessings and hope to hear positive stories about them. I also urge others to come forward and take the opportunity not only to earn a livelihood overseas but also to enhance their knowledge and career,” said Chief Minister Sangma, according to a state government statement.
He interacted with the nurses, their teachers, and the students involved in the initiative.
The "Skills Meghalaya" scheme covers expenses up to Rs. 50,000 for each candidate through MSSDS. This financial support includes language training, cultural immersion, and other preparatory steps necessary for employment abroad.
The initiative plans to cover 300 nurses in the coming years, aiming to expand the opportunities for Meghalaya’s youth in the global healthcare sector.
One of the selected nurses, Laikyrmen Khardewsaw from Khlieh Umtrew village in Ri Bhoi district, shared her journey. She described it as a “difficult one with many challenges,” but expressed gratitude for the support from her family, friends, and community.
“God was with me, my family, loved ones, and friends were with me, motivating me from time to time and making this journey a beautiful one,” she said.
The language training was conducted by NAVIS, one of the four firms identified through the scheme.
The training took place in Bengaluru and was led by ten teachers. NAVIS, along with other firms, signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Meghalaya government in December 2023 to facilitate language training and job placements in countries like Japan, the UK, Singapore, and the UAE.
In addition to the 27 nurses heading to Japan, another 14 have secured placements in various institutes in Singapore through a different agency.
These nurses are expected to join their new positions within the next three months.
Five of the selected nurses for Japan have already received their visas, with two having departed for Japan on May 27.
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