Govt Initiatives Aim Towards Boosting Employment Opportunities In NE: G Kishan Reddy

HT Bureau

GUWAHATI, July 20: The government has undertaken various measures to improve employment opportunities, particularly in the North East Region (NER). These initiatives focus on enhancing skills, entrepreneurship, and fostering livelihoods for youth and women in the region, said union minister G Kishan Reddy in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

To bridge the gap between job-seekers and employers, the government has interlinked portals such as ‘Udyam’, ‘e-Shram’, National Career Service (NCS), and Aatmanirbhar Skilled Employee-Employer Mapping (ASEEM). Additionally, NCS centers have been established for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and the differently-abled, including six centers in the NER. The partnership between NCS and Microsoft has resulted in ‘DigiSaksham’, a digital skills initiative to improve employability.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has introduced various short and long-term skilling programs like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Jan Shikshan Sansthan, and National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme. These programs have provided training to thousands of individuals in the NER, equipping them with relevant skills for self-employment and industry opportunities, the minister added.

The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana offers collateral-free loans to micro/small business enterprises, empowering entrepreneurs to set up or expand their ventures.

In the rural sector, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana, and Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme have significantly contributed to generating employment and supporting livelihoods, Reddy further said.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability in urban poor households through skill development and setting up micro-enterprises.

The PM-DevINE Scheme by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) has enabled livelihood activities for youth and women. Projects focused on technology application, organic agriculture, and handloom and handicraft support have been approved under this initiative.

These initiatives demonstrate the government’s commitment to fostering economic growth and improving employment prospects in the North East Region.