NAGALAND: UNIVERSITIES & EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS SHOULD MAKE STUDENTS JOB GIVERS AND NOT JOB SEEKERS : GOVERNOR PB ACHARYA

Across the globe youth are in demand but the knowledge acquired should be applicable to the demands and therefore universities and educational institutions should take the responsibility to make student, when they pass out, job givers and not job seekers stated Nagaland Governor, PB Acharya today while addressing the regional seminar on “Natural Resources, Skill Manpower and Development of Northeast,” organised by Kohima Science College, Jotsoma at Kohima Science College, Auditorium Hall.

He said institutions should include skill development courses in their curriculum so that students are employable and can take up entrepreneurship. Government of India has introduced Mudra schemes targeted for helping students, especially from the weaker section of the society to become entrepreneurs.

To be successful in this competitive world, Acharya encouraged the students to take courage and change their mindset and take up entrepreneurship and further opined that the Government sector has reached a saturation point and it was impossible to recruit every educated youth of the State.

Earlier, Addl. Director, Department of Higher Education, Dr. I. Anungla Aier, in her keynote address stated that Northeast, is a resource rich region both in terms of population composition and natural resources, but what it lacks is the right skill sets to harness it sustainably, viable and apply it scientifically and skillfully.

Dr. Aier said that the interface of development agenda and natural resources management has been the cause of conflict in many countries. She advocated for development and use of natural resources based on the rich cultural tradition that abounds with innumerable indigenous knowledge systems that has enabled and sustained the people and conserved the rich biodiversity for generations.

While pointing out the paradox that exist where there is large number of educated unemployed youth while industry is short of skilled professionals, she said that it is important to generate skilled manpower with the right skill sets.

Dr. Aier, while stating that students represent a huge capital waiting to be discovered, stressed on the need for the government to invest in skill development. It is necessary for the community, the government and the academia to partner in meaningful ways to evolve workable strategies to deal with the complex and muli-layered issues of employability, job creation, livelihood, development and environment concerns, she further stated.

Resource persons during the regional seminar were Professor Sapu Changkija, Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, SASRD, Medziphema, Neichute Doulo, Chief Executive Officer & Co-ordinator, Entrepreneurs Associates and Amba Jamir, Founder & Executive Secretary, Sustainable Development Forum, Nagaland. The topics discussed ranged from natural resources of Northeast India with special emphasis on Nagaland, Skilling Manpower for Nagaland and various development issues.