Former Home Minister calls for change in mindset of youth, review of education system
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Former Home Minister RG Lyngdoh has called for a change in the mindset of the youth and a review of the present education system to tackle the current unemployment scenario in the State.
“We cannot continue to focus only on white collar jobs. There are limited opportunities in the Government sector,” Lyngdoh said while speaking on the topic, ‘Human Capital’ at a seminar organized to mark the 18th foundation day of the United Democratic Party (UDP) here on Friday.
He said that the local people have to shed the Colonial hangover of giving preference only to government jobs.
“The British always wanted our people to be dependent on the Government. It has been 70 years since the country got independence from the British regime, but the mindset of our people still remains the same. We still think that government jobs are the only ones worth pursuing. We see only the secretariat, government as source of revenue and jobs,” Lyngdoh observed.
The former Home Minister, who is also the MLCU vice chancellor, said that in the wake of the growing frustration among the youth due to lack of employment opportunities, time was ripe for the Government to have a relook on the present education system.
“We need to have an education system which will empower our youths with different skills to make them employable. The present education system has failed since even after completing degree courses our youths are left jobless,” Lyngdoh said.
Pointing out that the report on the employment scenario from the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, states that “every third degree holder is unemployed”, Lyngdoh said that it implies every third person is frustrated.
“Every third person who graduates is angry and that I feel is one of the biggest problems that we face in the Northeast and Meghalaya. Until and unless we are able to look at private sector or opt for businesses we will not be able to exploit the opportunities that are there around us,” he said adding that the high level of frustration leads youths to drug abuse, militancy etc.