Zoramthanga says his core focus to eradicate unemployment

Aizawl, Nov 8 (UNI) Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has outlined his government's next ''core focus'' to tackle unemployment problem in the state.

In an interview with UNI here, the Chief minister said ''we have already chalked out various packages for the unemployed youth across the state. We are currently engaged in giving a comprehensive training in the communication sector, for all the unemployed youth, where they could secure good job inside and outside the state''.

''Our main asset is the vast fertile land in the state and we are taking measures to exploit as far as possible to encourage young entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector'', Mr Zoramthanga said.

''In Mizoram, with its human development Index at seven, it is possible to increase income of the state by encouraging the unemployed youth, if we exploit the agro-food processing area by value addition and by large scale cultivation of bamboo and subsequent handicrafts products.''. '' My government will also be increasing the revenue generation through creating market avenues, by improving border trade with the neighbouring countries such as Myanmar and Bangladesh in addition to meet the local requirement'', he said.

North Eastern Council (NEC) has also sanctioned over Rs four crore for setting up of IT professional training project for educated unemployed youths in Mizoram, he said adding the objective of this programme was to establish state-of-the-art IT professional training centre for more than 500 local youths with special emphasis in the field of networking and other various core subjects in the IT field.

He claimed the state has great prospects for Agro-forest based industry.

''We would be narrowing the gap by allocating more funds to create infrastructure facilities in the region to encourage outsiders to set up various industries, which would benefit thousands of unemployed local youths,'' he said.

Youth should understand the fact the government alone cannot provide employment to all, it was essential to create opportunties for emerging educated youth for employment or self-employment in private sector, he pointed out. He said with the help of several NGOs, the state would launch awareness campaign to motivate the young generation to ugrade their technical cabability in IT, servies, tourism, marketing and other relevant sectors.

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