DIMAPUR, JUNE 28 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio today underscored the need for setting up technical and job-oriented institutes in a state like Nagaland, which is solely dependent on largesse from Delhi.
Even as Nagaland prepares to celebrate 50 years of statehood, the CM said not a single national, regional or technical institute worth the name has been established in the state. “In these 50 years we have been dealing with the political issues, insurgency issues, the militancy and we had neglected so much on the institutions”, Rio said.
The CM was addressing the inauguration programme of the new campus at the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysis of India (ICFAI) University, Nagaland, in Sovima.
Taking a conservative estimate, Rio said about 25,000 Naga students pursuing higher or technical studies outside the state spend an approximate Rs. 1.5 lakh per student in a year, which would come to a whooping Rs. 360 crore expenditure yearly.
“We have no resources of our own, we are not a producing society, we are a consumer society and we are not exploiting our natural resources. So our society is literally a ‘salary economy’ and if such amount is drained out for studies, then for our other needs, essential commodities and all the materials that comes into our land, whatever money is given from Delhi is taken back”, Rio said.
He added, “That is why our progress is very slow, we lack in human resources and because we don’t have institutes we go out to study but nobody comes to us for studies. It’s a one way traffic.”
Given the scenario, the CM said it is imperative that Nagaland have private universities and technical institutes to impart technical and job-oriented skills to the youth, which would in turn generate employment and build human resources.
“Today’s economy is knowledge-based driven economy. You need to build your skills which fits into the market...Then we can come up with an industrial culture”, Rio said.
Noting the infrastructure of the university, the CM expressed optimism that the university would become a centre of excellence where students can get quality education and become responsible citizens, contributors and promoters of “our society and our economy.”
Guest of honor and Parliamentary Secretary for Higher Education & SCERT, Deo Nukhu, in his address lauded ICFAI University for focusing on management courses and said it is a boon to Naga society. Nukhu also hoped that the university would facilitate needy students to compete their studies. Earlier, Vice Chancellor, ICFAI University, Dr VRK Prasad delivered the welcome address and briefed the CM and other dignitaries on the planned layout of the campus.
ICFAI University, Nagaland, was established by an act passed by the state government in 2006 for a new university in Nagaland and the university started functioning in 2008. There are five ICFAI universities in the North East Region (Tripura, Mizoram, Sikkim, Meghalaya and Nagaland).
