Manipur Govt. hosts NE labour ministers meeting

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has called for a collective effort to end the alienation of people from the north east.

Addressing a regional conference of north east labour ministers and officials, Singh said, "It is our responsibility to create a sense of unity among the citizens of the country.

The conference was held at the Hotel Classic Grande in Imphal.

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call of "Sab ka Saath Sab ka Vikas", the chief minister said the Centre has given priority to welfare of the people and to inclusive development.

Singh highlighted the need for ending the harassment and discrimination of people from the north east in other parts of India.

Emphasizing on the talent and potential of the people of North East India, he stressed that Manipur has the highest per capita of population in the field of sports and sends the highest numbers of officers to the Indian Army.

Insisting that such conferences and review meetings should be held more often, Singh said they help to strengthen infrastructure and enhance manpower skills.

He informed that the state-level skill development mission has been introduced to formulate prospective and detailed action plans for skill development in Manipur.

Efforts were also on to generate employment, housing and drinking water by 2022.

Singh said vocational training courses have been introduced in 40 colleges to impart skill development to youth in the State in fields such as information technology, tourism and hospitality, retail management and computer hardware technology.

He said that his government has set a target of generating 7.50 lakh jobs by 2022.

Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Santosh Gangwar said the Centre is focused on development of the north east to bring an inclusive growth and development in the country.

Manipur's Minister of Labour and Employment Th. Radheshyam Singh said the country's labour force is a vulnerable section of society and it was important that they got to know about various central social security schemes for their welfare.

Expressing concern over reports that children are working on construction of roads along with the BRTF/BRO in the state, Radheshyam Singh said that he will take steps to stop it.

During the conference, presentations were made on child labour, the plight of plantation workers, social security schemes and matters relating to the welfare of unorganised workers by experts.

Assam Labour and Employment Minister Pallab Lochan Das, Nagaland's Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs, Labour and Employment Dr. Neiphrezo Keditsu, Union Labour and Employment Secretary M. Sathiyavathy, Financial Advisor and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment Arun Goel and officials from the north east states participated in the conference.