AGOK meet deliberates on unemployment issue

Dimapur, Sep. 25 (EMN): With an aim to encourage educated unemployed youth take up entrepreneurship as career rather than solely depending on the limited government resources and saturated employment opportunities, the Angami Gazetted Officers’ Krotho (AGOK) organised ‘Krüta Nousi Kehou’ with its units namely SAGOK, NAGOK, WAGOK and CGOK along with village-level officers’ krotho on September 23 at Capital Convention Centre.

A DIPR report stated that the programme was organised along with all Kicha/Rüna office bearers in order to further disseminate information to the educated unemployed youth at the grassroots by the participant members.

Speaking on the occasion as the guest speaker, secretary of Works and Housing, Kesonyü Yhome, stated that the state’s resources are shrinking day-by-day along with the employment opportunities in the government sector. Referring to Employment Exchange which has registered over 93000 educated unemployed youth, Yhome stated that the actual figure could be double or even more.

Informing that there are more than 1.2 lakh government employees in Nagaland, Yhome stated that the entry to government service has not only become scarce but also become very competitive.

Some reasons for unemployment among educated youth according to Yhome are craze only for certain special courses such as medicine or engineering, aspiration for white-collared jobs, lack of spirit of dignity of labour etc. Owing to those preferences, he stated that there is significant loss of opportunities which are available within the state. This can be easily gauged by taking into account the number of non-Nagas employed in an unorganised and private sector in the state, which otherwise could have been capitalised by the Nagas themselves, he added.

“In order to bring a change we need to change our perspectives, unless we change our perspectives we will remain as it is today even in the coming days,” Yhome said.  

While referring to a survey, he pointed out that of the total 13000 business establishments by both Nagas and non-Nagas in three district headquarters alone, about 45815 non-Nagas are earning their livelihood with an annual income of INR 450 crores. He stated that Dimapur has the largest non-Naga workforce with 32700 followed by Kohima with a workforce of 10900 and Mokokchung with a workforce of 2215 non-Nagas.

The commissioner and secretary of Industries and Commerce, Kekhrievor Kevichüsa, stated that the entrepreneurial spirit in Nagas is very strong, however, the entrepreneurs in the state have been failing over the years as they are unable to access the right environment, information etc. He, therefore, urged AGOK members to take the responsibility in disseminating proper and timely information to those suffering or facing problems in terms of financial constraints, accessing the right guidance and getting the right information.

He also highlighted on the ‘PMRY’ scheme under the Industries and Commerce department, which has been designed to provide employment to educated unemployed youth by setting up of micro-enterprises, self-employment, venture for industries, services etc.

The additional secretary of Labour, Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Kovi Meyase, mentioned some of the programmes under his department for skilling the youth. He stated that the youth who aspire to set up enterprises should take advantage of the Leveraging Entrepreneurship Development Center (EDC) and avail the entrepreneurship development programme.

Meyase has attributed lack of awareness, lack of motivation, alternative employment, socio-cultural factors as inhibitors, economic factors, policy framework, education system and orientation as the root causes of unemployment. 

A retired joint director of Agriculture, Vizonyü Liezietsu, urged the educated unemployed youth to go back to the land rather than solely depending on the government considering the present condition of our state’s economy. He highlighted the scope and prospects of agri and allied and how it could help one to become self- reliant in this fast changing world.

Keynote address and the way forward was delivered by the AGOK president, Neilasa Sopfü, while the vote of thanks was proposed by the AGOK vice president, Nirei-e Nisa.