Employment-linked skill training programme to provide jobs to 324 youth in Nagaland

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Aug. 22 (EMN): Advisor of Technical Education and Election, Medo Yhokha on Monday said the past has arrested the progress and economic development of the state, leaving its resources unexplored.

He was addressing the joint visit programme of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), J K Trust and department of Technical Education, to the Government Polytechnic Kohima for employment-linked skill training programme.

Yhokha expressed hope that the coming together of the three — JK Trust, NABARD and government of Nagaland — will go a long way in dispelling the misconceptions of the state and enable the society to grow and prosper.

While pointing out the staggering figure of educated unemployment in the state, he said that doesn’t mean the youths are unemployable; maintaining that they are also trained and skilled but they need to be groomed by the government and agencies. Further, he called for contributions from all like-minded people and citizens towards progress and imparting skills to the youth for transformation of the state.

Ram Bhatnagar, CEO of JK Trust, Mumbai, said the project is important as it is a unique model, wherein the government of Nagaland, JK Trust and NABARD have come together with a purpose to start employment-linked skill training programme.

Stressing on the importance of skill development and workforce, he asserted the need to bridge the gap and that investment will only come when there is workforce.

While pointing out the lack of industry in Nagaland, Bhatnagar expressed hope that the initiative will help the youths gain skill and look from a different perspective.

He said JK Trust is a social initiative from Raymond Group, which produces over nine million garments in a year. He said the youths from the state will get the opportunity to cope with the movement and learn high skill standard.

Further, he said the north-eastern states need intervention and expressed hope that many will come in to invest in the region.

Meanwhile, Tiakala Ao, General Manager of NABARD, Nagaland, said 60% of Nagaland’s economy is from agriculture but it hardly contributes 20% to the GDP and majority of the contribution comes from tertiary sector.

She informed that NABARD is committed to sponsoring 12 batches of employment-linked skill programme — tailoring training in the next two years which will cost approximately INR 40 lakh and the candidates will be provided with training and employment.

Shaji KV, Deputy Managing Director of NABARD, Mumbai, asserted that it wants to reduce the dependence on agriculture in the state due to lack of other opportunities and to bridge the income disparity.

Stressing on the need for equitable development, he said the Central government is focusing on ‘Act East Policy’. He emphasised on the need to tap the potential of the society and community.

The programme was chaired by M Nakro, Director of Technical Education, welcome address delivered by K Rhutso, Principal GPK, and vote of thanks proposed by Vipulhou Lhoungu, additional director of Technical Education.

Aimed at producing

The employment-linked skill training programme, which aims at providing tailoring/ sewing machine operator jobs to 324 unemployed youth in Nagaland, will be implemented by JK Trust, Mumbai, at a cost of INR 56.38 lakh, wherein NABARD will provide INR 39.46 lakh and INR 16.92 lakh as CSR contribution.