By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The problem of limited availability of people with specific knowledge to deal with specific problems and challenges in areas where solution is already accessible can only be addressed by replicating them into the system and avoid wasting time, thereby benefiting the government and its line departments expressed Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma.
“Meghalaya may have different problems and challenges in terms of ethnicity, way of lives and the likes but the problems can be confronted through the accessibility of people and institutions which actually have a solution for such challenges”, Dr Sangma said.
Dr Sangma delivered his speech at the inauguration of the institute of UN studies, Meghalaya Chapter and the United Nations association (Meghalaya), a department of the Indian Federation of United Nations Associations (IFUNA), at the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) on Tuesday.
Expressing confidence on the benefits the youth can derive from this institute, he said, “Emphasis should be laid on this new institute in bridging the gap between a developing Meghalaya and a developed one.”
“Though, this a small beginning, yet it will open up big opportunities to the people and the youth in particular, who will not only get the chance to absorb the jobs available in this field but also enrich themselves with human values imparted by UN”, Dr Sangma said.
The institute will offer a 6 month diploma courses on the United Nations and the curriculum will cover the UN bodies such as the UNICEF, UNESCO, the World Bank and such. These 6 month courses will commence from the December 15.
“The relevance of the course has been rapidly increasing with the impetus on globalisation in each and every sphere of society all over the world”, Dr Sangma informed, while announcing that the allocation of a larger plot of land for construction of the UN Resource Centre in Shillong which is currently under process.
He also maintained that the creation of the UN association in Meghalaya will promote international peace and understanding as envisaged in the UN chapter and to further activities of the UN and its specialised agencies.
Further, the Chief Minister also stressed on the requirement of integration amongst partners outside the line department, while referring to the people as partners and not beneficiaries stating that “Only then, will we be able to assure a sustainable livelihood to the people of the state”, he added.
Meanwhile, Secretary General of IFUNA-New Delhi, Suresh Srivastava, who also spoke during the function, gave a historical account of the United Nations, while adding that a diploma through this institute may not ensure a job in the UN but it will definitely go a long way in making the students of the institute better people.
The others who were also present at the occasion included Principal Secretary CS Krofa, Vice President of IFUNA Bharat Babbar and Dr Ashwini Sarma besides others.