Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, NOV 13 (NPN): Minister for Rural Development and SIRD, Metsübo Jamir, on Friday said the real strength of Nagaland lay not in its natural resources or scenic landscapes but in its youth, stressing that equipping young people with skills, confidence and opportunities was vital for the state’s economic growth.
He was speaking at the Combined Induction Programme of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) trainees of Nagaland, organised by the Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission (NSRLM) under the theme, “One Platform, New Skills, Countless Opportunities,” at Nouné Resort, Seithekema-A Village.
Addressing the gathering, Metsübo said youth empowerment should go beyond providing employment opportunities and focus on holistic development. He said true empowerment meant equipping young people with the confidence to face the future, providing them with relevant skills to adapt to a changing job market and enabling them to become self-reliant while supporting their families.
Referring to projections of the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, he said Nagaland’s population was expected to reach around 23.67 lakh by 2030, with youth constituting a significant share of the population. He noted that this presented a tremendous opportunity for the state to emerge as an economic powerhouse, provided its young people were adequately equipped to contribute to development and nation-building.
Highlighting the role of DDU-GKY, implemented through NSRLM, Metsübo said the scheme aimed to bring skill development and employment opportunities closer to rural youth, particularly school dropouts and unemployed young people seeking sustainable livelihoods.
While encouraging youth to explore employment opportunities, the minister expressed concern over the tendency among many candidates to seek jobs outside the state rather than exploring entrepreneurial and livelihood opportunities within Nagaland. He stressed the need for greater initiative among young people to consider self-employment and enterprise creation as viable career options.
Metsübo also acknowledged the role of parents in supporting their children to undergo training and pursue placement opportunities, especially outside the state. He thanked parents for placing their trust in the government and said parental support remained a vital source of strength for trainees.
Appreciating the efforts of NSRLM, he called for continued mobilisation of young people from every block, including those residing in the remotest villages. He reminded trainees that while the government could provide platforms and opportunities, success ultimately depended on their determination and willingness to make use of those opportunities.
He further assured that the state government remained committed to empowering youth through skill development, self-employment initiatives and employment generation programmes.
Earlier, delivering the welcome and keynote address, joint director, Rural Development and Mission Director, NSRLM, Moa Sangtam, highlighted the progress made under DDU-GKY and called for a change in mindset among young people regarding employment beyond government service.
He said the scheme focused on providing industry-relevant skill training and placement opportunities to rural youth. Sharing achievements under the first phase of DDU-GKY, Sangtam informed that 8,837 candidates had been trained, of whom 6,129 were placed. Under the second phase, 481 candidates had been trained and placed, while around 800 candidates were currently undergoing training through 19 Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs).
Sangtam also pointed to the state’s financial constraints, noting that over 75% of the government’s budget expenditure was spent on salaries, leaving only around 25% for developmental activities. In view of this, he stressed the need for youth to look beyond government employment and explore opportunities in the private sector and other industries.
The programme was chaired by SPM (Mobilisation, Counselling and Job Fair), Ebibeni Humtsoe, while the invocation was offered by coordinator, WEC-IMM, NE India, Thejangulie Lohe. A parents’ testimony was shared by Ketholeho Kera. Trainees of Bengal City Nirman Pvt. Ltd. presented a special number, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Chief Operating Officer (Skills), NSRLM, Menunoeitüo Chadi.