Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 30
Advisor, Department of Undeveloped Areas (DUDA), Thongwang Konyak, today said the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) is a programme under DUDA for 13 blocks in the state.
Addressing the valedictory programme cum distribution of machines/tools to the successful trainees under BADP Capacity Building Programme 2015-16 at Nagaland Tools Room and Training Centre (NTTC) here, the advisor said many people think that DUDA and BADP are separate departments.
Thongwang said since most of the trainees come from remote border areas, the department in charge should utilise the abilities of the trainees for the benefit of the community. He also urged the trainees under BADP to work towards imparting knowledge and pass on their skills to their respective areas.
He said BADP covers 13 blocks - six blocks in Mon district, three blocks in Tuensang district under Khiamniungan area, two in Pungro under Kiphire district, and two in Phek district under Pochury area. Unlike other states that receive enough fund under BAPD, the DUDA advisor said “whatever fund is received for BADP is used judiciously though the fund is not sufficient.”
Director DUDA, KS Anden Konyak, who spoke on overview of trainings under BADP capacity building programme, said the border regions of the state are the “least received region” economically, politically and socially due to geographic isolation and that these regions are unable to take part in the economic growth.
He also said the social and economic developmental programmes have still not successfully penetrated the remote and border regions. With few schools scattered throughout these regions and the absence of technical educational institutions, there are very limited avenues to meaningful employment other than agriculture which is overly saturated, the director underlined.
Anden also said that the handful of people who have credible degree are unable to get suitable employment based on their skills and education, and are forced to look outside their region for meaningful employment.
“It is evident that for the growth and development of these regions, it is important that along with infrastructural development, employment should be created for the thousands of unemployment and underdeveloped process. These employment opportunities should help create new industries in the area, and also help supplement and sustain existing ones, and should go on to create our economy capable of absorbing hundreds of new workers to the work force every year,” he said.
What is required at this present juncture, he added, is an external intervention that would help encourage and build up the skills of the local populace which would further go on to create economically viable and sustainable employment opportunity in the border regions.
As per the DUDA Director, since the implementation of BADP, more than 5300 villagers have benefited sponsored by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Border Management, Government of India. From 2017-18 under the BADP Capacity Building/Skill Development Programme, the department is also planning to give special emphasis on livelihood for farmers of Indo-Myanmar border block villages with an objective to improve the socio-economic condition of the most interior international border area villagers.
In his speech, Principal, NTTC, Er. Petehetuo Miasalhou, said society tends to look down on people who live on manual works, not realising that these sections are the ones proving their skills. He however said that with time people’s perspective towards manual workers are changing.
On the occasion, the DUDA advisor also launched the new Corn Sheller invented by NTTC. Altogether, 30 trainees completed their courses with 23 trainees assured of job placement and seven committed to work as entrepreneurs.
