Providing gainful employment to youth a recurring challenge for govt: Minister Jacob

July 22, 2023 26 Views No Comment

Morung Express news
Kohima | July 22

Minister for PHED & Cooperation, Government of Nagaland Jacob Zhimomi today said a recurring challenge that the State Government is confronted with today was how to provide gainful employment to youths by giving them right placement, keeping in mind the alarming number of unemployed youths and lack of resources and jobs in the state.

He was addressing a felicitation programme organized by the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) for Naga Toppers in HSLC and HSSLC examinations 2023 in Kohima.

He said according to a government data, dated back to September 2022, 90,000 educated unemployed youths were enrolled. Another example, he cited was when there were over 55,000 applicants for about 500 Grade-4 jobs.

These statistics are alarming and poses a huge challenge for the State Government. The Minister asserted that although people of the State are not behind anybody, intellectually, they are economically behind many states because of lack of resources, trade and commerce and the development in these areas will take time.

Zhimomi said, “one of the fundamental concerns of the state government is to see that the dedicated youth are placed in the right place that they are deemed fit to be.”

On the other hand, he questioned the employability of the youths today where Zhimomi observed that educated youths passing out of reputed institutions have however become “people in isolation with good degrees.”

As the passed out students get into higher education, the Minister reminded the students that it was a crucial stage to choose the right subject which is paramount to determine their future. He therefore, advised students to put in hard work and faith in the path they choose.

“Don’t go for peer pressure, sibling pressure,” the Minister said, urging them to recognize their own capacities, calibre and talent.

Zhimomi urged the students to be consistent and reminded that the knowledge gained should be utilized for the welfare of society. He further challenged the toppers to become problem solvers in society.

NSF President Kegwahun Tep delivered the welcome address and encouraged the toppers to become an asset, not a liability and aim beyond the state up to national level.

Maintaining that the COVID-19 pandemic had hit every sector of the community, Tep said the student community was most affected with lack of resources as schools and students were not properly equipped.

He also shared concerns over the performance of the government schools where the pass percentage was 49.3% for HSLC exam and called out the sincerity of the teachers serving in the government schools.

Vevotolu Kezo, UPSC 2023, Rank 387 shared her success story. Kezo recalled that she had also attended a similar NSF felicitation function back in 2014 and advised the toppers that constant study routine and consistency had been the key to her success and shared that a supportive environment was required.

Altogether, 66 HSLC and 33 HSSLC students along with two from the Council of Higher Secondary Education (COHSEM) were felicitated.

The programme was chaired by Atokiho Sumi, Vice President NSF. Speech on behalf of the toppers was given by HSLC Topper Arolü Phesao, Rank 9, 2023. The programme was also attended by MLA , Dr Tseilhoutuo Rhütso and Naiba Konyak.