Guests and officials during the one-day media workshop on Skill India & Digital India organised by the Press Information Bureau, Kohima at Hotel Japfü on March 18.
Morung Express News
Kohima | March 18
A one-day media workshop ‘Vartalap’ on Skill India & Digital India was held at Hotel Japfü, Kohima on March 18.
Organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the workshop was held for media persons with Kovi Meyase, Director, Department of Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship as special guest, and I Simon Teilia, Joint Director, Department of Information & Public Relations, Government of Nagaland as guest of honour.
Considering the transformation that is taking place all across the country, Meyase pointed out the relevance of the theme ‘Digital India and Skill India’ in the workshop. “With an objective to transform India into a digitally empowered society, Digital India Mission was launched in 2015 and so was Skill India mission to provide adequate training skills in market relevance skills,” Meyase said.
He added that “Over the years, with improved digital literacy, resources and infrastructures, Digital India mission is certainly well on its way to achieving what it was targeted to achieve to reduce the distance between government and its citizens in providing a more transparent and efficient delivery of governance.”
Within the country as well as within our state, the department has also set up its common service centres, framed its digital initiatives and moved on with forming the Nagaland e-governance society. This, according to Meyase, is being channelled to provide better services to our citizens.
“Under the Skill India mission, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), we have the objective of skilling youths enabling them to upskill and upgrade, to enable them to enter the market with more employability skills, and increase their earning potential. In our department we have trained 14,000 youths over the years, and about 7000 have received placements,” stated Meyase. The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program is one of the most vital part of the whole PMKVY scheme, he added.
In his speech, Meyase also acknowledged the Ministry of Skill Development who has “handhold, shouldered and funded us towards achieving whatever little we have achieved today”. He also informed that the Department was privileged to be selected to present one of its multi skill programs in the recent National Conference of Chief Secretaries that was held in the presence of the Prime Minister in January.
“If you look at these two missions, I think in more ways than the other, it complements each other, a harmonious convergence that we see. As well as demand and supply dynamics is concerned, it is creating a digitally skilled workforce while also promoting entrepreneurship and self employment,” Meyase added.
Need to pursue investigative journalism
Meanwhile, I Simon Teilia spoke on the essence of journalism in the State and the need to pursue investigative journalism that will help uphold democracy.
“In media reporting, one main point is to make a difference -what difference does it make in the life of the common man- and to create consciousness, that benefits the public,” said Teilia while adding that in journalism, real reporting begins with truthfulness.
With the formation of an oppositionless government in Nagaland, Teilia also emphasised that now the onus lies with the Fourth Estate to play the role of an opposition in an oppositionless government.
“If we continue with the same journalism, fearing that someone is controlling over, there will be repercussions in our society. Let us take a strong decision to stand for truth and make a difference and let Nagaland grow,” said Teilia, concluding with two quotes: “Danger brings fear, and fears more danger brings” (Richard Baxter) and “Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision” (Winston Churchill).
Earlier the welcome and keynote address was presented by K Sonikumar Singh, Asst. Director, PIB Kohima while the vote of thanks was delivered by P Sophie, HoO.
