Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar speaking during the inauguration of the STPI facility in Kohima on September 17. (DIPR Photo)
Union Minister of State inaugurates STPI centre in Kohima
Morung Express News
Kohima | September 17
A Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) centre in Kohima was inaugurated by Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar on September 17.
The Union Minister said that information technology along with skill development and entrepreneurship are crucial areas to focus on in order to help provide opportunity for the youth. He said that the inauguration of the STPI is fulfilling a part of the Prime Minister’s vision towards creating a technology ecosystem in the North East and thereby creating opportunities for future generations of this region.
The Minister remarked that the main objective of the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) centres across the country is to take the delivery of skills, knowledge and expertise closer to communities that will use them. He informed that training centers across the NE are already creating appetite for more learning among the youths and aligning the learning to the opportunities that exist outside.
He encouraged the IT Department to create a rolling strategy to have monthly meetings with the Ministries.
Chandrasekhar urged the State Government to build a network using the STPI and NIELIT with the other educational institutions to create more job opportunities in Nagaland.
The Union Minister also virtually inaugurated the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology, Chuchuyimlang, Permanent Campus.
He also attended a celebration of the 71st birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi where Nagaland State Unit BJP President, Temjen Imna apprised him on pertinent problems the state is facing.
Nagaland Govt envisions creating more jobs
Meanwhile, Nagaland Advisor for Information Technology & Communication, New & Renewable Energy, Mmhonlumo Kikon declared that the Government of Nagaland envisions to create 5000 IT and ITeS related jobs in the next two years in active collaboration with the Union Ministry. He stated that due to the changed scenario because of COVID-19, the STPI, IT Department will create an ecosystem where internet will be made accessible to every nook and corner of Nagaland.
Kikon also called on the IT related agencies in the State like NIELIT, NIC to collaborate and coordinate with the IT Department in the days to come. He further stressed on the need for NIELIT courses to be relevant to the unemployed youth.
Chandrashekar expressed confidence that the State Government’s vision to create 5000 jobs in 2 years is achievable. “When youngsters from Nagaland and other parts of NE are able to go and work so hard successfully in metro cities in the IT industry, nothing should prevent them from doing the same here,” he stated.
Correlating with the new norm of work from home, he viewed that with the IT sector in place, Naga youth need not necessarily be working outside the state as they can be working from their own places.
Investments in IT Dept
Kikon informed that the Government of Nagaland has invested a lot of energy and resources in the IT Department. He stated that the STPI would not just provide grants and identify entrepreneurs, but would enable the Government of India to mentor those chosen for the programme.
Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, IT&C and Power, Nagaland, KD Vizo stated that the Department of IT&C had given almost 40% of building infrastructure to the STPI centre. He viewed that it is the right time to take Nagaland to the next level and make it the land of e-Governance, through extensive use of e-Governance and ICT based technologies.
Vizo added that the main aim of the department is to make the State a major software exporter in the South East Asian Region and make the State one of the richest in the country by actively engaging unemployed youth in meaningful IT and e-Governance related activities.
Chandrasekhar assures improved internet in Nagaland
The Union Minister meanwhile assured to improve internet quality in Nagaland.
“I have promised to improve the internet quality in Nagaland with whatever is in my capability. We can improve the internet capacity and bandwidth in Nagaland” said Chandrashekar during a press conference at the BJP Head Office, Kohima.
While stating that over 5 lakh new jobs in IT sector and 3 lakh jobs in manufacturing units have been created this year alone, Chandrashekar stated “the youth of the NE in general and youth of Nagaland in particular must use these investments wisely and create a better future for themselves.”
“Young Nagas are looking beyond finding a job; they are now actively looking at building business and companies,” he observed. Towards this, he said a series of discussions was held with government representatives of Nagaland on where and how to create opportunities for the youth in the IT Sector.
“We will work as a team to make sure that we will integrate all the organisations of the Government of India that are in Nagaland to work closely with the IT Department so that all of these investments that are being made in creating entrepreneurship are affectively utilised in the fastest possible manner” he stated.
The Union Minister also told media personnel of his expectations made known to the STPI Kohima, to see it full of companies and engineers in the next 3-6 months, and to make sure that 10-20 companies are being placed as incubators.
