IMPHAL, NOVEMBER 17: Giving employment to unemployed youths will be the ‘top priority’ of the state government if the existing Manipur government comes to power again in the ensuing assembly election, the chief minister of the state has promised.
Employment for the unemployed youths has been a headache for the government.
The assurance was given by Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh while speaking at the inaugural function of the Central Poultry Farm at Khumbong, under the department of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry in Imphal West district on Thursday.
Ibobi said that the government ‘considers’ the problem of unemployment in the state ‘seriously’. It is impossible to give government jobs to all, he admitted. Rather, the government emphasizes on the development of entrepreneurship.
The state’s cabinet has recently taken a decision to adopt a ‘Manipur Start up Policy,’ Ibobi said. So far, it is heard that said type of policy is being adopted in some states of India such as Kerala, Gujarat, Karnataka and West Bengal, he said.
Under the policy, skilled and innovative unemployed youths who do not have enough money to start small scale industries will be given support to enable them to start their entrepreneurship.
Ibobi also said that the Veterinary & Animal Husbandry department will be incorporated under the policy; that way the department can give gainful employment to unemployed youths, particularly those in the rural areas. He stressed on the need for unemployed youths to take up short-term training programmes in, for instance, poultry farming and similar areas.
The chief minister explained that ‘if we give more thrust to this sector not only employment generation but also it would reduce the import of the poultry products in the state which is impacting on our economy.’ He was hopeful that the Central Poultry Farm would be a centre that would come to provide employment to the unemployed.
Speaking as the president of the function, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam also expressed happiness at the increase in the activities of the Veterinary & Animal Husbandry department. He said that the present government had taken up steps to revamp many departments to give the benefits of the departments to the people.
He has appealed for cooperation to the government and to ‘inculcate a sense of belongingness’ and ‘sense of participation’ to preserve and protect ‘whatever infrastructure the government has built for the benefit of the people.’
