IMPHAL, April 16: The opening of a regional institute for skill development inside Imphal College under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneur, which is the first such institute in the North-eastern region will be of great advantage for the educated unemployed youths, said Imphal College principal Dr Ng Ibotombi today.
Addressing a press meet held inside the college, Dr Ibotombi said the institute will open up opportunities for the educated unemployed youth to get trained in skill development.
Imphal College will act as the service provider of the training programme and it is targeted to commence training from the first week of July, he asserted.
Regional coordinator Dr Meinam Binota said the skill development programme was initiated in 2013, but the government was unable to implement the scheme properly till date.
However, since the BJP led NDA government under Narendra Modi came to power, such schemes have been given more focus to generate self-employment among the educated unemployed youths, she said.
She further said that the scheme is sponsored under the National Skill Development Corporation with Federation of Skill Development Corporation as the implementing agency.
Till date, other than Manipur participation has also been confirmed from States like Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, she said adding that there has been no confirmation from States like Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim.
Stressing that literacy alone couldn’t contribute to the economy without skill development training, she said now the government is focusing more on skill development trainings.
She continued that the main target group for the skill development training is the drop-out and educated unemployed married women.
The training programme will also provide chances of job placement and setting up of own enterprise in the State, she added.
Although the Ministry has identified 18 trades to be included in the training programme, phase I will be conducted on agriculture, entertainment, building and construction and tourism and hospitality, she said.
In this connection a one day workshop will be organised at Manipur University on April 19 with the Union Minister of State for Tourism Mahesh Sharma as chief guest, she said adding that experts and faculties for the first training programme will come from NSDC and FSDC.