Nagaland governor, P.B. Acharya, on Friday asserted that universities should impart skills and knowledge that could equip a student not just to earn livelihood but to be an enabling factor in the process of growth and development.
Speaking as chief guest at the conference “linking prospective food entrepreneurs with government schemes & markets”, organized by Central Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), in association with Associated Chambers of Commerce of India (ASSOCHAM) at NU-SASARD Medziphema campus, the governor said universities were centres of knowledge and centres for empowering young minds with knowledge.
He said educational institutions in Nagaland were second to none and Nagas were thirsty for knowledge. Acharya was however critical of the limited initiatives of the universities in the process of development.
He highlighted the lack of dialogue/link between universities and critical agents of development such as industries, society, and government etc and lamented that universities were “self-centred.”
Emphasising his point, Acharya cited an example of how a small CRPF unit in Nagaland in 2-3 years successfully assisted small scale entrepreneurs in setting up a food processing unit, which reportedly employs about 50 people at present. Whereas, he said universities and banking institutions, with all their financial and intellectual reservoirs, have done very little in this direction despite being in existence for 40-50 years.
In conclusion, the governor called upon the gathering to sincerely work together towards peace and progress.
Also, speaking on the occasion, Nagaland University vice chancellor, Prof. B.K. Konwar, pointed out that road and communication was the key to industrialisation, adding that mobility of people and products were essential towards industrial growth.
Prof. Konwar, however, deplored the lack of not only infrastructure but the lack of critical institutional support and mechanism towards farmers and small entrepreneurs in the state.
Attributing failure of farmers/prospective entrepreneurs to the lack of organised system/ mechanism, vice chancellor the need for “organisation” in this respect.
He also appealed to ASSOCHAM for cooperation in this regard and remarked that Nagaland University was willing to facilitate any joint venture. NABARD Dimapur AGM also highlighted the lack of industrialisation in the state especially in the area of food processing.
Informing that the bank has received Rs. 2000 crore (2014-15) for setting up mega food parks across the country, AGM called upon entrepreneurs to approach NABARD to avail various schemes provided by the bank.
Northeast Mega Food Park Limited, Guwahati, chief coordinating officer, Ronn Prakash, also highlighted various activities and facilities available at the Food Park.
The conference was divided into three sessions — preliminary, inaugural, and technical, in which experts from across the country and state, progressive farmers, prospective entrepreneurs, and students participated.