Yanpvuo Kikon
Entrepreneur and Consultant
The fact that there was Assam elections and Nagaland economy (Dimapur particularly) came to a halt is a clear indication of who controls our economy! The two main sectors in the Secondary and Tertiary industry - Construction & Retail were severely impacted. Almost all construction works came to a standstill while almost all shops were closed.
This is a revelation of how our economy is almost completely run by non-Nagas and non-Nagaland labour. We talk about GDP growth this year but who are the majority productive workforce in our economy? Non-locals.
What Nagaland needs is a real practical strategy to reduce this reliance on outside labour to drive our economy. Contractors (Thikadars) play a key role to ensure they start taking in local workers and let them just work alongside non-local mesteris - This is one approach which I found very effective to pick up skills - Be it tiles, masonry, electrical, plumbing etc By law, it must be made compulsory for thikadars to have at least 50% local (Naga) labour workforce.
Construction skills are learnt outside the classroom - No amount of classroom training can upskill local mesteri. Have you ever seen any non local take classroom training to become skilled? No! These skills are only gained through practical work and later revisiting theory in the classroom, where the pedagogy should be 15% classroom and 85% practical. And our young labour workforce will never ever learn to become good mesteris & contractors unless our Government and Administration also give a clear rule that these non-local thikadars (contractors) should compulsorily take at least 50% local youths to make them work in these projects & upskill them. This cost should also be covered by the Labour Cess.
Our people will say our local youths are lazy & will not work, but No! They have started to work - many because they have no other choice - But this can become a blessing in disguise. Even in my own small humble projects, I made sure our local boys are included in the workforce. Within 1-2 months with just 2-3 projects now they have picked up the skills and in 1 year they can start independently taking up small construction projects by building their own team of masons, electrical, plumbing, painting etc Just give chance to our young GenZ boys & girls, unless we give them opportunity in real projects - they will never learn these skills only in classrooms!
Young Nagas should not try to become contractor directly without improving their skills. First work as apprentice under skilled mesteris (Like a martial art student learns under a great master). If you are a half-skilled mesteri and directly take up big projects, you will only end up losing your client's hard earned money in sub-standard works. Hence, first become a high skilled mesteri by working under good mesteris before going around and trying to pick up big projects.
I have also noticed in Dimapur & even in Kohima and other rural areas where young Nagas are now forming groups of painters, electricians, masons etc and doing a even better & honest job than non-local construction work. This needs to become a Mission at a policy level as well, only then we can talk about a self-reliant Nagaland. In addition, ILP should be implemented seriously to ensure, labour workforce do not become permanent settlers but remain contributors to the economy.
And for the young Nagas, initially you will not earn much money; you will struggle waking up very early everyday & working in harsh conditions while your other friends are wasting their days, months and years in cafes, partying regularly,mobile games, entertainment and giving a delusional life but don't give up and continue leveling up your skills silently in the construction sector, because in few years you’re annual revenue will become higher than all the big officers. You will become successful through hard work without having to steal public money and show off illegitimate wealth. You will become an inspiration for others to follow your path of true success. That is how we can build a truly self-reliant Nagaland - Skill, Honesty and Dignity in Hard work.
