Union Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Thursday announced the setting up Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) of international standard in Nagaland.He also promised to set up skill development centres for the youth."I want to assure that the NDA government would set up skill development centres or ITIs in Nagaland and other northeastern states," Rudy said at a gathering at Patkai Christian College here.He urged the Nagaland government and educational institutions to join hands with his ministry in skilling the youths by providing required infrastructure.Noting that the Skill India Mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was essential for the development of the northeast, the minister said:
It is the need of the hour that we recognise the potential of the youth of the region and link it to socio-economic growth of the northeast region and the country as a whole."He asked the Federation of Industry and Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER), which represents the industries of the northeastern states, to have its representation in all the Sector Skill Councils of his ministry so as to enable the SSCs to better understand the requirements of the northeastern states and industries of the region.Stating that his ministry was committed through its short and long-term skilling courses for the development of the region, Rudy said: "My ministry would also work with the ITIs in the northeast for their upgrading through industry linkages with the constitution of Institute Management Committees in these ITIs."We will certainly be able to reap the demographic dividend of the region," he added.Admitting that lack of industrial activities has affected creation of job avenues in Nagaland, Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang asked the union minister to establish ITIs in all the districts of the mountainous state."There is an urgent need for opening one model academy for skilling the youths of Nagaland and for that, the government is ready to provide the land to set up the skill academy," Zeliang said.