Need to build a skilled and future-ready Nagaland — Advisor Longkumer

KOHIMA — Advisor for Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Excise, Moatoshi Longkumer, on Friday called for concerted efforts to build a skilled, confident, and future-ready Nagaland.

The advisor was addressing the PM–National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS) state-level campaign on promotion of apprenticeship in the North Eastern States held at Capital Cultural Hall, Kohima.

Longkumer expressed delight at the event, stating that the programme is timely, given India's rapidly evolving skill landscape and industries' adoption of new technologies, productivity norms, and modern work processes, including in the North-east.

He observed that in the present environment, youths cannot rely on education alone but need exposure, experience, and industry immersion, and added that this is where apprenticeship becomes transformative.

The advisor stated that apprenticeship matters for Nagaland, as the state has no shortage of talent. What is needed is structured opportunity, as apprenticeship bridges this gap, giving young people real workplace experience, not just certificates, he maintained.

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“For a state like ours, where the industrial base is emerging and service sectors are growing, apprenticeship offers a practical pathway to strengthen our workforce and open doors for our youth,” Longkumer said.

Pointing out that across India, states that have embraced apprenticeship have seen notable improvement in employability and productivity, he insisted that Nagaland must not remain on the margins of this national momentum.

He maintained that the state can and must expand apprenticeship opportunities across sectors such as hospitality and food services, electrical, plumbing, construction trades, MSMEs and small manufacturing, retail and logistics, IT, digital services and BPO support, agriculture, food processing and agri-tech, crafts, design, and creative sectors.

He pointed out that these are areas where Naga youth have already shown promise, and apprenticeship will help translate that promise into capability.

The advisor also opined that ITIs, government departments, industry bodies, SSCs, and TPAs cannot operate in silos. To achieve scale and sustainability, policies, training, counselling, and industrial coordination must be aligned.

He went on to state that convergence is not just administrative efficiency—it is how we ensure that every trainee finds a pathway, every employer finds support, and every district participates in skill development.

Longkumer assured Government of Nagaland’s commitment to strengthening the apprenticeship ecosystem, while reaffirming that efforts will focus on improving industry participation across all districts; upgrading ITIs to ensure they produce apprenticeship-ready trainees; and supporting MSMEs with easier onboarding through the Apprenticeship Portal.

He went on to assert that the goal is clear: Nagaland must progress from low participation to meaningful, sustained engagement in PM-NAPS.

Meanwhile, the advisor also told the youth that apprenticeship is not a stop-gap; it is the beginning of their professional journey. It teaches discipline, teamwork, and responsibility that no classroom alone can deliver.

He advised them to treat it with seriousness: ask questions, learn continuously. “Your first apprenticeship can shape the next ten years of your career,” he added.

During the programme, a presentation on the Apprenticeship Scenario in India with Special Focus on NE States was made by RDSDE and IIE, Guwahati, titled Apprenticeship: Importance of Convergence and the Way Ahead.

Earlier, the welcome address was delivered by Sotsula, Commissioner & Secretary, L&E, SD&E, and the vote of thanks was tendered by Savio Visa, Director, DESDE.