State Finance secy encourages youngsters look for avenues in entrepreneurship

Principal Correspondent
Kohima, February 23

Nagaland Finance Secretary Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS today said that the educated youths in the State should not only be focused on government jobs alone but they should look avenues in private sectors. Addressing the inaugural function of the two-day workshop on Education and Employability/Skill Development at Mount Olive College here, Kikheto said that employment in government sector is very limited. Recalling that Nagaland state was formed out of political agreement and all fundings for establishment and development were to be looked upon by the Central government, he lamented that the funding pattern changed in 1990, because of which the state has been suffering.
Adding to the change in funding pattern, he said that the period of 13th Finance Commission from 2010-11 to 2014-15 has been a dark period for the State. Nonetheless, he expressed optimism that the new 14th Finance Commission, which will come into effect from April 1, 2015, will bring better days for the people of Nagaland.
Expressing that miracle cannot be expected from the 14th FC, he encouraged the youngsters not be focused on government jobs alone or for achieving mere degrees, but they should understand and be skillful to adjust to any given circumstance.
He highlighted that presently the State government has over 1.4 lakh employees and has to spend over 60% of the fund revenue expenditure to meet the salary and pension requirements of the State Government.
Nonetheless, he remarked that Nagaland being a resource crunch and also lacking in central institutions within the State, the state has to spend huge amount of money in educating the youngsters in other parts of the country. “40-50% of the salaries of government employees is being spent on education of children outside the state,” he said.
Stating that just about 50% of the salaries of government employees is circulating within the State, he also pointed that even out of this, huge amount of money goes to non-local businessmen, especially illegal immigrants because ‘our own local people do not want to take entrepreneurship.’
Citing that Mokokchung has been able to take up business ventures from the non-locals, he said ‘if our local people can take up entrepreneurship and business activities, the funds being provided to the State will be sufficient for the State.’
“Our people should not depend on other people, but should learn how to work and eat,” he added.
Also stating that the Government of India has been focusing on Look East Policy, he said once the gates are opened Naga people will become slaves if this trend continues.“We should prepare ourselves to grab the opportunity,” he added.
“If outsiders can come to the State and do business and earn, then why cannot our local people do so,” he quipped. Film and Cultural Society North East, Secretary, Rahul Jain delivering the keynote address said that in order to be a successful entrepreneur one has to be focused on the endeavour taken up. He said every successful entrepreneur must have come through failure, but they were not discouraged and ultimately became successful.
Meanwhile, the inaugural session was chaired by Assistant Professor, Arenla Longkumer while Principal Dr Narendra Tiwary delivered the welcome address and vice principal Swedezhono Tsükrü tendered the vote of thanks. The seminar is being jointly organized by Mount Olive College Kohima and Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Ministry of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Youth Affairs & Sports in collaboration with Film and Cultural Society of North East.