The North Eastern Region (NER) comprising of seven states can possibly redefine the economic
landscape of the region by increasing their share of
GDP and leading to the generation of direct and indirect employment.
We need to take a cue from the fact that countries
with a high repository of skills aligned with their core
areas of economic opportunities have always been able
to optimize value. India in general and the NER, in particular, are witnessing a severe shortage of trained
workforce on one hand and non-employability of
graduates on the other hand. The recent steps taken
by the
National Education Policy (NEP) and the UGC
in bringing about the concept of multidisciplinary education and dual degree is the right step in course correcting the past. However, the need of the hour is now
revolving towards developing a sustainable skill ecosystem with a clear roadmap for a productive workforce
equipped with the skills of the moment. Besides the
traditional skills in handloom, agriculture etc (serving
the ongoing need for the MSMEs) there lies other opportunities in job creation in other sectors like tourism, food processing and logistics.
While there has been growth in tourism, agriculture and food processing there exists significant opportunities to leapfrog with appropriate policy direction and strategic investments for exponential growth
in these areas.
Tourism can be broadly segmented into three parts
mainly - religious tourism, scenic and Himalayan tourism and lastly forest, wildlife and tea tourism. To promote and attract both domestic and international visitors all the seven states have to develop the right infrastructure and facilities. It is likely that those who are
keen to visit NE budget between 7 to 15 days stay to
either cover a specific place or the entire region.
On the agriculture and food processing front NE is
famous for high quality pineapples, exotic rice
breeds, betel nuts besides other traditional
agricultural produce. Most of these
perishable products can be processed and marketed across the
length and breadth of our country and even overseas. Processed
food besides adding economic
value will not only enhance the
longevity of the product but will
also reduce the complexities of
damages, wastage and enable
weight reduction for easy and
cost efficient transportation. The
region in this regard has to significantly augment cold storage
facilities which are a critical
infrastructural support in this
space.
It is therefore imperative for the seven states
of the region to put in
place a policy direction and robust process enabling strategic investments
in tourism, agriculture and
food processing
and finally in
developing
the
much-needed
infrastructure facilities including enhancing the capacities of the existing airports, chopper services, constructing high end hotel
and highways. Connectivity and logistics will be paramount and could be the game changer in the employment front.These initiatives will not only enhance their
contribution of GDP to the country but will leapfrog
in generating direct and indirect employment. However to seize this opportunity and more importantly
sustain the momentum there will be a need to develop high quality manpower feeders generating
skilled and managerial workforce for the expected economic boom. Being in an era of digital enabled world,
future skills will have to embrace digital literacy and
therefore developing vocational hubs in every district will have to be given topmost priority
