Shillong can be IT hub of northeast: Speaker

SHILLONG: Information technology (IT) can provide ample job opportunities to unemployed educated youths in the region, opined Meghalaya legislative assembly speaker A T Mondal on Wednesday.

"Shillong can become the IT hub of the state, as it can provide job opportunities to the talented youths of the state," Mondal said, adding, "In today's world, science is important and it has become a part and parcel of our daily life."

Concerned over the increase in the number of unemployed youth in the state, the speaker said that with the increase in population, obtaining white-collar jobs is very difficult.

Millions vie for vacancies in government departments, making it difficult to meet the job demand. Citing the example of a police recruitment rally in the city, he said 1.20 lakh unemployed youths had applied for only 1,200 vacant posts. "Hence, we have to create opportunities in the private sector and the IT sector to bridge the gap," he said.

"There is a massive requirement in the country for a skilled workforce in sectors like information technology, infrastructure, tourism, media and healthcare. Educational institutions should constantly upgrade their training methodologies and curriculum," an IT expert said.

"Development of entrepreneurial skills is important for creating self-employment opportunities, more so in relatively less-developed regions of the country like the northeast," he emphasizes.

However, the northeast, which has very few skill-imparting institutions, is lagging far behind the rest of the country in this aspect, he noted.

"More polytechnic and nursing colleges and similar such institutions which ensure employment have to set up across the region," feels a first-time member of the state assembly.

"There is no denying the fact that the scourge of unemployment has been the biggest bane in the restive northeast, which is swarmed by insurgent outfits. However, once there is security of livelihood, there is hope that the situation would change for the better and development would replace militancy," a political observer said.