About 4,000 of the total 13,838 job seekers jostle among themselves in 28 stalls manned by representatives of vocational training providers (VTPs) during the three-day job-cum-skill development interview fair, which began at IG Park here today.
"Arunachal Pradesh is a state with young people and the job mela, a maiden in the entire North Eastern region, aims at making the best use of the people's capabilities for the state to march towards a better tomorrow," said Governor Nirbhay Sharma, in his inaugural address.
Pointing out that the job scope has saturated with one lakh people employed in the GoAP, he called for attitudinal change to go beyond the state and think of offering jobs instead of looking for it in tune with the global village concept.
Appreciating Chief Minister Nabam Tuki for his bold move, he said all steps would be taken to make it a success.
Tuki on his part said that two lakh unemployed youth remaining unproductive in the state was a matter of great concern, and added that the job fair was a well thought out plan.
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"I announced to generate one lakh jobs during the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-15). Total 17,000 jobs were created during 2012 including 4,000 recruited by police department (1500 from Tirap and Changlang districts) and 200 trained and employed by International Institute Wellness Studies (IIWS), Noida, that silenced my detractors who had termed creation of one lakh job an impossible task," he informed.
"With huge number of engineers remaining unemployed, many steps could be initiated," Tuki said, adding he had suggested them to take up various projects, including hydropower for which the GoAP would extend all possible help.
"All of you are from remote villages, including myself but a single wise step taken with honesty of purpose, sincerity and dedication could help you become Ambani or Hinduja. Be employers instead of being employees," Tuki said to the thunderous applause of the massive gathering.
Quoting the adage - Jo darta oh marta -, the Chief Minister exhorted the youth to not have any fear as "I'm committed to create 25,000 jobs this year".
"Such mela would be conducted in district too and the outcome would boost the state economy and contribute towards making Arunachal a crime-free state," he said.
Terming the Chief Minister a visionary leader with a difference, Industries Minister Tapang Taloh said the job mela conceived by him would be a panacea in tackling state's unemployment problem.
National Skill Development Agency Director General J P Rai said that the GoI has been arranging such events in all states to skill the job seekers.
One per cent (13,814) of state's total population registering for the mela is a major achievement, he said, adding this example would send a louder message to the rest of India the way sun rises from Arunachal and enlightens the entire nation.
"Thousands of unemployed youth are in search of jobs while various employers are looking for capable employees but lack of skill in them has been the stubbing block," said CM's Principal Adviser on Skill Development Sharada Prasad.
He added that Arunachal Pradesh would have a incremental manpower supply of 7.5 lakh between 2011-12 while the demand for internal growth would be only 1.47 lakh according to a skill gap study for the North Eastern region conducted by ICRA Management Consultant Services (IMaCS).
"This leaves a huge youth population of additional 6.03 lakh in next 10 years available for use elsewhere in the country," Prasad said, adding the job mela aims at filling the gap.
"The GoAP would bear all expenses for training and expected that the VTPs should provide jobs to at least 70 percent trainees in phased manner. In the long term, the VTPs should create their own training infrastructures in the state while the outcome of the skill development training and placements would be uploaded to a web portal under constant monitoring by the GoAP," he added.
The novel initiative would yield the much desired result and the event would continue to fulfill the aspirations of the youth to make them productive, said Chief Secretary Hari Krishna.
The VTPs included reputed CPSUs like NHPCO, NEEPCO, private power developers Reliance, Athena besides Indira Gandhi Technological and Medical Sciences University, Ziro were accommodated in stalls for the youth to approach them in a systematic manner while food and tea stalls were set up for the visitors.
Later, the governor and CM jointly gave away cheques as subsidy to respective bank and key of tractor to Techi Yater and Techi Pada and power tiller key to Tadar Roi, Nabam Katung and Nabam Yasing under CM's Agri Mechanisation programmes launched in 2012-13. In all 1700 farmers benefitted last year while 1600 are targeted this year.
The Chief Minister earlier inspected the stalls to ensure that everything was in place.
He, however, became emotional while interacting with few passed out trainees of International Institute of Wellness Studies, Noida.
"We are happy that we learnt that has been helping us to earn and lead a decent life," they informed.
"The result of your action is clearly tangible," commented a senior journalist.
Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentary Secretary, MLAs, senior officers, public leaders attended the inaugural function.
