Dimapur, July 21 (EMN): Directorate of Employment, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship has conducted a one day orientation programme on ‘Aspiration and opportunity mapping study’ in its conference hall, Kohima, on July 21.
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Principal Consultant, Aditya Bran Malik, speaking at the orientation programme on aspiration and opportunity mapping study in Kohima on July 21.[/caption]
The programme began with opening remarks and felicitation by the Deputy Director of Employment Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Chiden Yaden. Stating that the mapping opportunity has not been conducted by any other states, he said the study is a big challenge and a learning experience for all to shape the future of the State.
Joint Director, Y Vandanshan Lotha, delivered short speech on the background on aspiration and opportunity mapping programme, which was followed by another speech by Deputy Director, C Lotam Chang, on the ‘Roles and responsibilities of district in-charge and AMOs.’
Stating that Nagaland remained disconnected and secluded, Aditya Bran Mallik, Principal Consultant, said the people’s understanding of opportunities that are available in various skill development programme and the kind of job opportunities they can avail was low. He has attributed lack of access to market, capital for funding entrepreneurship expertise to sustain ventures as the factors that has prevented the youth from acquiring sustainable livelihoods in both job employment and self employment.
He also mentioned that unless action is taken, the situation of youth will become unsustainable. Stating that young people represented valuable resource to the economy, business and society, he said providing better skill development will be one of the key dimensions for a stable society.
The main objective of the orientation programme was to bring out an informed study about the aspiration of the local population and the opportunities available initiated by the department. It aims to cover all the 11 (eleven) districts of the State. The study will be administered at the grass root level through a questionnaire designed to capture the needs and aspiration of the local population. To have a comprehensive data, a sample size of minimum 50 households from each block in the State will be surveyed and the macro economic data of each village will also be captured.
The outcome of the orientation programme was to give an insight on the actual reality prevailing at the grass root level and bring out the livelihood aspirations of the people.
The funding of the aspiration mapping study was historic because Nagaland is the first and only state in the whole nation undertaking this study in all the districts. The study will collect information from the targeted audience between 18 to 30 years of age who are basically the main job seekers. The study will help in finding what the target audience want- what kind of jobs they want, what basic infrastructure is required etc. This information will form the basis for the states skill policy.
Nagaland state skill mission is in the process of being formed which will develop the policy. The data will form the basis for that policy. The study is important because it will link the needs and challenges of the youth in Nagaland.
The department has requested all the youth, churches, village councils, women organisations etc to respond positively and help in making the study a success to benefit the future youth of Nagaland.