Northeast Youth Empowerment: PM-NAPS Awareness and Registration Drive Held in Mokokchung
MOKOKCHUNG, Jan 29: An awareness and registration drive for the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS) was successfully conducted at Jubilee Memorial College (JMC), Mokokchung on Thursday, marking a significant push towards skill development in the Northeast region.
Organised under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), the initiative focuses on the Northeast Region in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of “Ashta Lakshmi” and “Viksit Bharat, Viksit North East.” The scheme aims to bridge the gap between industry demand and skilled talent through hands-on, experiential learning.
Addressing the gathering, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung, Atsungba Walling highlighted the urgency of skill development in an era shaped by automation and globalisation. He said a traditional degree alone is no longer sufficient and urged youth to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
Stressing that skills are the key to self-employment and not merely a route to government jobs, Walling cited an Ao folklore, “The bamboo that bends doesn’t break,” encouraging students to remain flexible and resilient in the modern job market.
Pravin Yadav, State Coordinator, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), led a technical session on the registration of establishments and students on the official Apprenticeship Portal.
Er. H. Alongse, Joint Director, DOESDE, presented a comprehensive overview of the current employment scenario in Nagaland, while representatives from the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati, spoke on the importance of convergence and the strategic way forward for apprenticeship in the region.
The programme was moderated by Dr. Chubaienla Imchen, Assistant Professor, JMC, and included a screening of PM-NAPS success stories and an interactive networking session with Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) and Third-Party Aggregators (TPAs).
The event began with an invocation by Counsellor Yimnayanger, followed by a welcome address by Er. T. Imlisunep Ao, Principal, Govt. ITI Mokokchung. The session concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Er. Enchiba Longkumer, Principal, Govt. ITI Kohima. (Zuchumo Kithan, IA Mokokchung)
