‘Nagas have to shed narrow-mindedness to embrace change’

Dimapur, April 15 (EMN): The minister for Higher and Technical Education Temjen Imna Along Longkumer has urged people to ‘shed’ narrow-mindedness if at all they wish to experience ‘change.’ He was speaking at the 19th foundation day of the Dimapur centre of the National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT) on April 14 as its chief guest. A press release received on Sunday informed about the event and associated proceedings. In his address Along Longkumer called digital transformation the future which ‘we’ all need to be prepared for. In this ever-changing world and the advancement being made through technologies, the minister said ‘Nagas have to shed their narrow-mindedness to embrace change for better.’ The NIIT is the right platform to provide the much needed skills to the students to get the national and international exposure, he said. Information technology skills cannot be ignored in the present world as it controls all spheres of life, the minister opined. He exhorted the students to seriously ‘re-skill’ themselves. The minister appreciated the team of the NIIT which he implied keeps updated with the latest technologies. Congratulating the centre for its 18 years of hard work in contributing to building Nagaland, the minister suggested that the institution expand to other districts of Nagaland. Besides it may even open a call centre to employ the youth of Nagaland, or a university for high-end technology education. Longkumer expressed willingness to work with the NIIT for any project which might bring benefit to the youths of the state. He has urged the NIIT to launch special scholarships for underprivileged sections living in the eastern region of Nagaland. Congratulating managing director of the centre, Ajay Sethi, for his 18 years of service beyond his community’s traditional business, the minister appreciated the Jain community’s contribution in providing an ‘educationist.’ The institution’s managing director Ajay Sethi reminisced about his team’s achievements in the past 18 years. He said “freshest technology first” being the motto of the centre, the NIIT has undergone 11 curriculum changes to train approximately 25,000 youths of Nagaland while partnering with 16 institutions in the state and employing members from almost all the major tribes and major communities of India. More than 200 people have been employed by the company till date out of which 50% have always been Naga persons, he informed. Sethi expressed gratitude to the government of Nagaland for sponsoring 121 unemployed youth to undergo job-guaranteed GNIIT programs at the centre. He has requested soft loans or any other support for needy youths. Today, NIIT at Dimapur offers more than 100 semesters and modular courses under different diplomas and programs. The president of the Marwari Samaj Om Prakash Sethi also talked about initiatives and ways through which the Jain Samaj had contributed for the welfare of the state in general.