Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh on Friday said the day is not far when the Northeast region will develop as the ''favourite youth destination'' for youngsters.
While addressing a gathering of students at an Inter-College "North East " cultural event, at which he was the chief guest, Dr Singh said, in the earlier decades, the Northeast did not receive the kind of attention it deserved, as a result of which there has been an exodus from the region to the other parts of India.
"The primary reason behind this, he observed, is lack of employment opportunities and deficit of quality education. He said that the day is not far when the Northeast Region (NER) will develop as the favourite 'youth destination' for youngsters," he said. Around 25 colleges of Delhi University took part in different categories.
The Union Minister said on the one hand the Northeast has a huge natural resource which has remained unexplored and on the other hand, there is huge youth potential which has remained unutilised.
Dr Singh said the Organic Farming Mission focusing primarily on Northeast and the thrust on other areas like bamboo trade will help in creating job avenues. The Union Minister referred to special impetus given by the Ministry of DoNER to Prime Minister's "Startup India, Standup India" by introducing Venture Capital Fund for those young startups who wish to start an establishment or entrepreneurship in Northeast. If this succeeds, startups from all over India will make a beeline for Northeast India, he added.
Referring to some, first of its kind initiatives, Dr Singh mentioned the decision to set up a Sports University considering the high athletic potential of the youth and also the Brahmaputra Study Centre in the Guwahati University.
He said, Delhi has been enriched by some of the best faculty hailing from Northeast and appealed them to go back to their State of origin and serve the cause of academics.