Manipur governor sees good prospects for state in tourism

IMPHAL, DEC. 2: Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla on Friday said that the state has great scope in the area of tourism and hotel industry. The governor was speaking as the chief guest of the Kaushal and Job Mela under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikash Yojana (PMKVY), a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), at Hotel Imphal. The programme was organised by MSDE and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). Dr Najma Heptulla said ‘we have to tell the rest of the country and the world that Manipur is the best place to come for tourism as there is natural beauty, biodiversity, water bodies, Loktak Lake etc.for ecotourism.’ Other sectors that ‘can be good for providing jobs’ to the youths of the state are beauty, wellness and the health care sectors, she said. The governor pointed out the need to train more people in the health and ancillary industry sector. The fair, with stalls by 30 corporate in 17 skill sectors, will be helpful to ascertain which sector to be prioritised in order to give skill training and employment to the youths of the state. In his presidential speech, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said that the Manipur government was examining which model would be the most suitable for Manipur. The state’s Start Up Policy aims at developing entrepreneurship. This sort of policy has been adopted in some states of India. Under the policy, the government will extend support in ‘getting’ skill training by even engaging consultants and starting capital to help start an industry, to the unemployed youths. Finding ways to give jobs to unemployed youths of the state is a top priority, the chief minister said. The state government will extend support to any initiative of the Union Government especially in providing jobs to the youths of the state, he said. If there are employment opportunities and employment is high, peace will follow and if peace is there, then development will also be there, he said. Also, the joint secretary of the MSDE, Rajesh Agrawal, while delivering the opening address, said that the job fair was the first of its kind in the north east region and the first certifications issued in the country under the PMKVY program. During the function, PMKVY certificate to 15 surrendered insurgents who were trained as linemen under the PMKVY, jobs to 5 candidates, RPL certification to 15 candidates and skill competition prizes to three best weavers were distributed by the chief guest and president.