‘Educated youths unemployable due to lack of skills’

Legislator says that degrees must be accompanied by skills

Tseminyu, MAY 14: The reason why Nagaland has a section of youths calling themselves “educated unemployed” is because although they are educated, they lack the skills and industry aptitudes required by available jobs. Degrees are not enough; one must have technical skills or sets of skills demanded by jobs, a legislator told Tseminyu’s community on Saturday. 

A hall for Sendenyu Village Council, of Sendenyu village under Tseminyu sub-division in Kohima district, was inaugurated by parliamentary secretary for PWD (Housing) Levi Rengma on May 14.

Speaking during a ceremony marking the inauguration, the parliamentary secretary appreciated the initiative to build for the council a hall. Speaking about what he called “educated unemployed” youth, the politician said that, government positions can no longer absorb workers considering the increasing number of unemployed persons in the state of Nagaland. Apart from government jobs, he said, there are many other avenues available to sustain the job seekers, Rengma said. 
 

The only problem, he said, was that most of the so-called “educated youths” were not employable as they had no trainings nor the skills required to handle the jobs that are available, the parliamentary secretary said. He lamented that a ‘wrong concept’ about livelihood had been ‘imbedded’ in the minds of the Naga because of ‘too much dependence on government jobs, dependence on parents, lack of focus, lack of work culture and entrepreneurial spirit.’ This resulted in lost opportunities, he said

Citing a survey conducted by the directorate of evaluation on “Evaluation study on employment opportunities forgone by Nagas and employment of non-Nagas in the state of Nagaland,” Rengma pointed out that the income level of many ‘unskilled’ non-Naga workers was higher than that of many government employees in Nagaland.

The survey found that out of 13,380 business establishment units in Dimapur, Kohima and Mokokchung run by the Naga and non-Naga, the total workforce of non-Naga were 45,815. They generate an annual income of Rs. 450.60Crores, Rengma said. “So where is employment problem in Nagaland when you look at the figures?” he questioned.

The parliamentary secretary has urged the community to look to prospects with ‘dignity of work’ among by focusing on honest work and ‘entrepreneurial spirit.’