Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh has said that the youth potential of Northeast has remained hugely under-utilized. Speaking at “AAROHAN-2015” student festival, organized by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in collaboration with the Skills Institute of Technology and Management, in Guwahati today, Dr. Jitendra Singh said this is due to lack of exposure of Northeast to the outside world as well as lack of awareness among the people outside Northeast about the multifaceted talent and aptitude of the youth from this region.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that one of the serious problems faced by Northeast is the mass exodus of youth occurring partly in search of higher standard education in other parts of country and partly because of lack of avenues of employment. To address both these issues, the Ministry of DoNER has undertaken a number of initiatives, including opening up of hostels for Northeast students in Delhi and other parts of the country, setting up counseling and coaching centers for the students from Northeast and establishing Northeast study cells in some of the reputed Universities in Delhi and other places.
On the occasion, Dr. Jitendra Singh also announced the setting up of a Skill Development Center by the DoNER Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and also referred to the announcement recently made by him to set up Brahmaputra Study Center under the auspices of Gauhati University. The exact format and the spectrum of research and study to be undertaken in this center is being worked out in consultation with scholars and teachers, he added.
Complimenting ABVP for having organized the Aarohan festival, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the ABVP is among the oldest and largest student organizations of the country and even though it was visibly active even before the Independence, its present format under present nomenclature came into existence in 1948, which in other words means that the journey and growth of ABVP has been closely in tandem with the journey and growth of independent India. He particularly congratulated National General Secretary, ABVP, Sreehari for the commendable work being done by him in imparting quality skills, quality education and quality cultural ethos to the student community in Northeast. He assured of all possible support on behalf of the Ministry of DoNER for any constructive student activities planned for the region by ABVP and other organizations in the future.