Dedicated fund must to plug infrastructural gaps: Gogoi

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today strongly advocated for creating a dedicated fund for skill development to address infrastructural gaps in the North East.
Addressing the fifth and final meeting of the Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Skill Development at NITI Aayog here, Gogoi said proper skill development training must be imparted with linkages to industries for absorption of the created pool of skilled manpower.
"We need to approach skill development with maturity and wisdom to ensure that it becomes an integral part of the grand framework of India's growth and prosperity. There should be a dedicated fund for skill development to address infrastructural gaps in the North East," he said.

Citing unemployment problem as the root cause behind social unrest, ethnic conflict and insurgency, Gogoi pitched in for greater strengthening of State Skill Development Mission to ease the unemployment problem in the state.
"Skill development without absorbing the skilled manpower will not be meaningful unless public and private investments are not forthcoming," he said.
Gogoi said natural calamities like flood and erosion, climate change have compounded problems. "Every year, flood and erosion devastate the economy of the state. 4 lakh hectare has already been eroded with an average loss of 8,000 hectare per year. As a result, there has been a mounting pressure on land due to rise in population," he said.

In tune with the efforts of skill development, Gogoi emphasised on reorientation of education system to address the serious problem of school drop-outs at the primary and secondary levels.
"All skill-related efforts should be coordinated and harmonised between the Centre and the States," Gogoi said, adding the state government has set up the Employment Generation Mission and decided to launch the Assam Skill Development Mission to attain the objective.
The Chief Minister said the State Government has set up a target to generate employment opportunities for 7 lakh youth under different sectors this year.