Seeks to inspire future generation of North East leaders
Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 17
With the intent to take the ideas of North East youths to broader forums, the Young Leaders Connect (YLC) is organizing a “Start-Up North-East” conclave in Arunachal Pradesh. Emphasizing that the need for a developed North East to reach its full potential is the common strand bringing the region together, Member of Parliament Gaurav Gogoi, who is also a founding member of YLC, stated that the conclave would focus on working out a road-map for development in the North East.
“YLC has always been trying to talk about the ideas of the North East youths, and we are trying to represent these ideas in the biggest forum. In the end, what ties us all together is that the North East should be developed. The common theme that binds all of us together is if the Northeast can achieve its potential. We can see a lot of peace and prosperity emerging out of the conclave,” Gogoi stated this while addressing a press conference at Niathu Resort, Dimapur on September 17.
During the press conference it was also informed that this year’s YLC conclave will be held in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh on October 28 and 29 with the theme “Start-Up North-East”, riding on the Prime Minister’s “Startup India, Standup India” and “Made in India” campaign. This will be the fifth edition of YLC’s annual conclave.
MP Gogoi termed the conclave unique, one of a kind platform for achievers from the North East India representing diverse fields of education, health, hospitality, politics, and business to come together and make a road-map for the development of the North East and how “we” can inspire future generations of North East leaders. “No other platform has managed to do what YLC has done so far,” he asserted. He also pointed out that the beauty of the conclave is that it travels every year to a different location.
Co-Chair for the conclave, Mmhonlumo Kikon, Parliamentary Secretary, Labour & Employment, Entrepreneurship & Skills Development and Border Affairs (Nagaland) felt that the conclave can help discuss and focus on issues of entrepreneurship in the North East, how it can benefit from the various policies of the government by sharing lessons, experiences, and coming together to form alliances. Expressing a positive outcome from the conclave, he stated, “We feel that the winds of change will come towards the entrepreneurial sector which has not been promoted with much emphasis in the past.”
Hekani Jakhalu, YouthNet Founder and also the brain behind this initiative, also announced that the conclave will have panel discussions and round table discussions with experts and stakeholders that will go beyond dialogue and towards deliverable goals applicable in national and regional setting. On the side lines, there will also be interface between entrepreneurs, NGOs and Government agencies, advisory organizations. There will also be a showcase and competition of 8 successful entrepreneurs and their startups, one from each North East state. A football exhibition match will also be held between the Chief Minister XI and YLC, she informed.
YLC conclave, an annual event, aims to bring together young change makers and leaders from the North East and rest of the country, put their heads and hearts together to plan where they would like to see India vis-à-vis North East in the future, plan a roadmap, and strategize on interventions at the grassroots and policy level. In a landmark initiative, it engages policy makers, strategists, entrepreneurs, professionals, members of academia, sports, music and culture, and students to join the development course.
YLC member, Abu Metha, informed that in the past, the YLC conclave had taken place in Kohima in 2011 and 2012, Guwahati in 2013, and Delhi in 2014. He mentioned that the chief host for this year’s conclave is Kiren Rijju, Minister of State (Home Affairs), Government of India. The Chair is Bhaichung Bhutia, Co-Chair Conrad Sangma, Member of Parliament (Meghalaya), Co-Chair Mmhonlumo Kikon, Parliamentary Secretary, Labour & Employment, Entrepreneurship & Skills Development and Border Affairs (Nagaland).
