Vishü Rita Krocha Kohima | May 8 “Handwork will never go out of fashion”, Michael Newmai strongly asserts even as he expresses his wish for more young people to ‘adopt it’. A technician with almost 10 years of experience, he goes on to say, “I want to tell young people that government job is good but those who are home, doing nothing and depending on their parents must go out, initiate something and work instead of being idle at home.” He firmly believes that once you are doing something worthwhile, respect will eventually follow. Michael Newmai, who belongs to the Zeliang tribe, currently runs a mini service centre under the banner, “MI Refrigerator Repair Centre” at Chumukedima for the last two years. With five young people on the job, the centre has been extending its repairing services such as fitting AC, fridge, etc, to those living in and around Chumukedima, Medziphema and Seithekiema. They further take these services to Jalukie during weekends, having appointed a staff there to take care of the requirement. “He was taught here for 4-5 months and is in Jalukie now, doing repairing”, he informs. The team provides home service and has especially been doing it for old customers. “We have built a good client base”, he gladly expresses. He also enlightens that June-July is the peak season for repairing while pointing out that “on an average, we receive 3 fridges and 3 ACs for repairing.” “Typically, we are busy for 8 months in a year”, he adds. Michael Newmai is unmistakably one of those who has found job satisfaction in what he does for a living. A father of 2 children, the 29-year old professes that ‘handwork is better.’ “There is good earning here and you are independent”, he emphasizes. In fact, he says, “the standard of living is also better than some of those in the government service.” As a young boy, he dreamt of joining the police force but having grown up to become a technician instead, he truly believes that he has landed where he is needed, even while reiterating that he enjoys what he does. Michael Newmai received his early education from Livingstone Higher Secondary School Dimapur and went on to complete his higher secondary school from Patkai Christian College. Previously, he also worked at Onida for over a year and was later employed at the Samsung Service Centre, where he worked for 4 years. It his fervent wish that young people would learn the skills, whatever it is. “The first 2-3 years will be a struggle, but if you persist, you will get there”, he firmly puts across. *Year of Construction Workers (YOCW) is a joint program of the Government of Nagaland in partnership with YouthNet, Zynorique and the Department of Labour & Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
