SHILLONG: A twelve-member delegation of Young Leaders Connect (YLC) from Northeast met with the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on January 14.
The YLC group suggested that a special employment-linked skill development drive along the lines of “Udaan” for Jammu and Kashmir could be launched in the Northeast as well.
Udaan, the Special Industry Initiative (SII) for J&K is funded by Ministry of Home Affairs and implemented by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
The programme is a part of the overall initiative for addressing economic issues in J&K.
Chaired by Bhaichung Bhutia (Indian Football Icon), the delegation comprised of Kiren Rijiju (Minister of State, MHA), Sushmita Dev (MP), Gaurav Gogoi (MP) Karma Paljor (Business Editor, CNN-IBN), Conrad Sangma (Former Meghalaya Finance Minister) , Imo Singh (MLA, Manipur), G G Kamei (IRS), Hekani Jakhalu (Director, YouthNet), Tanushree Hazarika (Managing Director, Eclectic Group), Dr Lalrin Jahau (Surgeon, Mizoram) and Bjorn Deneise (GM, Mayfair Hotels).
Towards reaching a common goal of preparing North-East for the next level, YLC engaged with Jaitley and discussed and deliberated on several topics and issues related to the region.
In a statement issued here on Friday, YLC said that it seeks to create a platform for expression of ideas, that can harness the immense potential and the strategic location of the Northeast and transform it into a model region by drawing a roadmap for developing it in a sustainable, time-bound and planned manner.
With this objective, YLC submitted a set of recommendations to the Finance Minister to ensure optimum utilization of the rich natural resources and human resource base in the region.
The YLC group suggested that a special employment-linked skill development drive along the lines of “Udaan” for Jammu and Kashmir could be launched in the Northeast as well.
Such an initiative would ensure adequate employment or entrepreneurship opportunities and put more emphasis on youth development.
The need of the hour is also to create new higher education institutions even while strengthening existing ones through improvement in their governance, curricula and others.
Vocational training, scientific education, research centers and institutes of excellence are needed for the development of the Northeast’s youth, YL said
It also stressed on governance and policy related issues.
There have been government policies aiming to promote the Northeast region, but recent modifications have negatively impacted the desired objectives of these policies.
Hence, YLC recommended a few points like strengthening of the North East council (NEC), better coordination among agencies focusing on Northeast, ensuring proper utilization of development funds meant for the region, reverting to the original composition of the central assistance funds including special category status, special plan assistance, special central assistance, normal central assistance and north east industrial and investment promotion policy.
