Skilling, placement should go together: CM

Kohima: Asserting that learning or skilling alone could not solve unemployment issue in the state, the Nagaland chief minister T.R Zeliang on Wednesday said skilling and placement should go together. He said this while addressing the inaugural function of upgradation of diesel mechanic trade at government ITI Kohima, a joint venture initiative of the government of Nagaland, under department of labour and employment and skill development and entrepreneurship, and Tata Motors. Zeliang urged the Tata Motors to help the state government by offering job opportunities to the skilled students to work in industries on completion of trainings. Lauding the department and TATA motors, Zeliang said the project being the state’s first partnership with corporate India in the area of skill development, he was optimistic that it would go a long way in providing employment to the youth of Nagaland. Zeliang also underscored the urgent need of up-grading the infrastructure of the ITI in Nagaland with modern technology to ensure a steady flow of skilled workers and improve the quality of industrial production. He also emphasised on the need for a constant review and restructuring of the syllabi to make them relevant to the latest need of the industry, which would help equip the trainees with the required skills for employment in modern establishment. Further, the chief minister also urged the Tata Motors to come up with similar schemes like the one in Jammu and Kashmir where the national development corporation has come with a specially tailored program “UDAAN’ scheme, which would help meet the special need of the north eastern states.

He was optimistic that with the inauguration of the PPP project with Tata Motors, other companies would also come forward to partner with Nagaland. The chief minister assured to keenly monitor the progress of the joint ventures and to extend all support that deserved. National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) and National Skill Development and Corporation (NSDC) chairman S. Ramadorai, who graced the occasion as guest of honour, asserted that what was initiated today was a live demonstration of the Centre, which would directly make the youth employed even before they complete their course.  Stating that their aspiration was to modernize the right students with the right kind of attitude, Ramadorai said ITI Kohima should be buzzing with activities throughout the year. The chairman urged the students to learn and progress in their skills as ultimately it was the students who would benefit the most. He also assured to convey the needs and requirements mentioned by the chief minister.  On the need to have flight service from Dimapur to Guwahati as pointed out by chief minister during their informal meeting on Tuesday, the chairman assured to take the matter to the civil aviation board and owner (Air Asia).

Tata Motors consultant S.P Joshi in his brief address said the current technology has to match with the advanced technology in all the educational institutions while imparting training. He informed that a Tata Motor-service station was already set up at the ITI premise Kohima for the betterment of the youth to get hands on experience so that once the students were out of institute the students would get the first opportunity to get employed. Also, speaking on the occasion, parliamentary secretary for labor and employment, skill development, entrepreneurship and border affairs, Mmhonlumo Kikon, highlighted various activities carried out by the department with private organizations like NSDC Deloitte and experts. With an aim to make every stakeholder active participant of the state skills mission, Kikon said that the department has begun to involve local institutions like student organisations and Church.  Kikon also said that the state was eager to engage private sector and Indian industry to hire more people from Nagaland. He later submitted representation to the chairman NSDA & NSDC. Chairman North East Advisory council of FICCI, Ranjit Barthakur also spoke at the programme. Earlier, Tata Motor member handed over 407 mini-truck key to the director E&CT, which would be utilized for training purpose. After unveiling the monolith, the chief minister also inspected the up-grated trade machines.  Members from Tata Motors, parliamentary secretary C. Apok Jamir, department and government officials attended the programme.