Rural youth should acquire new skills: Jamir

Nagpur, Aug 19 (UNI) Maharashtra Governor S C Jamir today called on rural youth to acquire new skills to break out of the vicious circle of poverty, hunger and suicides.

Speaking after flagging off the 'Kisan Chetana Dindi' (farmers awareness rally) in Yavatmal in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra this afternoon, Mr Jamir said the youngsters should choose the technical and professional skills as per requirements of the changing economy. It was important to orient education as per the requirements of the new economy, he said.

''If this was done, even the most backward of areas could develop in a big way'', Dr Jamir said. A backward state like Nagaland had made tremendous progress thanks to the spread of education, he said.

Referring to the spate of suicides by farmers in Vidarbha, the Governor said crop failure, indebtedness and inability to repay loans were the root cause of the despair that was forcing the cultivators to take the extreme step. A farmer invests all his earnings in cultivation, but when nature plays truant, his agony could only be imagined, he said. ''However, taking the extreme step of ending one's own life could not be justified under any circumstances'', Dr Jamir said.

There were a lot of opportunities for employment and self-employment in animal husbandry, and these could go a long way in making the women from the rural areas economically self-sufficient, he added.

The rally, that was flagged off today, will pass through various places in Wardha, Amravati, Akola and Buldhana districts before concluding in Washim on August 26.

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