Dimapur, March 12 (MExN): The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Nagaland Branch in association with the Department of Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship conducted its first phase of ‘Industry Connect Programme.’
The programme is a World Bank assisted project which aims to generate awareness and promote youth participation in industrial training and self employment, according to a press release from the CII Nagaland State Council Chairperson Hokhuli Sema on Friday.
In the release, the Chairperson stated that contrary to the importance that Naga society gives towards education, “Youngsters can only think about the white collared job as society venerates only those employed in a ‘noble’ profession.” This preconceived notion on dignity of labour eventually leads to structural unemployment which has resulted in Nagaland having the distinction of being the state with the highest unemployment rate in the country for persons aged 15 years and above, she stated.
With a population of only 20.63 lakh, 30% of Nagaland’s population is comprised of youth and out of these 78,367 youngsters are unemployed at an alarming rate of 8.5%, the Chairperson added.
Based on this scenario, the first phase of Industry Connect Programme was conducted in Christian Higher Secondary School (CHSS) Dimapur, Mangyangnokcha Higher Secondary School (MHSS) Mokokchung and Baptist Thangyen Higher Secondary School Tuensang on March 10, the release stated.
Former CII Chairperson and Director, NIIT Dimapur Ajay Sethi participated as resource person at CHSS Dimapur and Principal ITI Dimapur Imchen delivered a short speech to around 300 students from CHSS and ITI Dimapur who attended the programme.
In Mokokchung, ITI instructor Lipokyanger led the interactive session and President of Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tsukti Longkumer and Former CII Chairperson and MD SymBios Creations L Mongkum Jamir participated as resource persons. As per the release, altogether 156 students from MHSS and ITI Mokokchung attended the session.
The programme was also conducted at Baptist Thangyen Higher Secondary School, Tuensang with Angelish Ronghangpi as resource person while local entrepreneur Chuba Khiamniungan talked on the ‘Skills and Entrepreneurship.’ This was followed by a brainstorming discussion on skill development and the importance of entrepreneurship with the 52 students who attended the programme, the release stated.
