YouthNet’s ‘first cut’ underway in Dimapur

“First cut” — an inter-collegiate entrepreneurship competition by YouthNet (YN) in partnership with Department of Youth Resources and Sports as part of “IMPACT 5000 by 18” campaign commenced Wednesday at Tetso College Dimapur.
Hundreds of college students taking part in the competition were addressed by Editor-in-Chief Nagaland Post Geoffrey Yaden as chief mentor. In his address, the chief mentor encouraged the youth,whom he described as the “generation next” , not  to be “stuck in the present mess” but shape their future with positive ideas and actions.
He urged the participants to strive for a futuristic society without tribalism so that every citizen can have an opportunity to succeed.  He however said cultural identity and preserving traditional values was important but had to be in a positive manner that did not divide society. 
Yaden pointed out that “genuine entrepreneurship” was not about money but about meeting a need of society and also to contribute towards well being and  socio-economic progress.
He also felt that though there were many local entrepreneurs such as those engaged in home made products and organic vegetables, yet there was lack of a proper organized market.   He especially noted that so long women were not given equally opportunity, Naga society will not rise up economically and socially. He said the potential of women was immense as they were committed and whose output was immensely beneficial for economic progress.
Further Yaden opined that in the present global context, there was an urgent need to reduce the size of the government because it has become too big, too expensive to maintain and disproportionately unproductive. In this regard, he said Youth Net served as an example of how handful of committed young people were able to do the job of many government departments brought together, to serve the people with commitment,  transparency and accountability.  He said the services rendered by YN was what developed countries provided and which is essentially for creating an environment for entrepreneurship.
Later at a question and answer session, Yaden said he was inspired to start Nagaland Post after witnessing how the state lacked a media platform when many wrong reports were carried in regional newspapers about the state.
On being asked how he handled stress, Yaden said the best way was to confront stress by analyzing the causes and take remedies against being stressed through physical and mental recreation.
On being asked if he had ever thought of giving up in mid-course of his venture, Yaden said that being so involved left no space for any such thoughts. He said everyone faces challenges and he personally took them on according to their magnitude. He said over the period, he has learnt to accept challenges as opportunities to prove himself time and again.
On being asked his marketing strategy for being the pioneer of the top selling newspaper in Nagaland, Yaden said that the most important characteristic was that a product has to be a trusted and a reliable brand. That needed cent percent hard work and commitment and a sense of deep responsibility to the readers.
YN administrator Tomtsa Chishi presented a PowerPoint presentation to illustrate the work undertaken by YN. He said that at the end of the day if you pursue what you are interested, that “beats any red light”.
First cut spanning two weeks includes task such as revenue generation, negotiation, communication, team work. During the course of this program each selected team will be given a capital amount of Rs. 10000, which they will be utilizing for profit making venture during the given stipulated time. On success of the program YN plans to take to other districts of Nagaland.
The teams would be monitored and judged on different parameters both by the respective colleges, YN and six local young entrepreneurs Inoto Khulu, Oren Ovung, Amongba, SentiNaro, Apong and Wapong Meren. The winners of the competition will receive an all expense business educational trip to a metropolitan city, where they will interact with CEOs and visit their companies.
The participating colleges from Kohima and Dimapur are Baptist College, Japfii Christian College, Kohima College, Kohima Science College, Sazolie College, St. Joseph’s College, C-Edge College, Engineering College NU, ICFAI, Mount Mary College, Salesian College of Higher Education, Shiv City College, Shiv City College, SM College, Tetso College and Sakus Mission College.