Seminar on 'Skilling Of Youth For Zero Unemployment' at Manipur University
Date: 22-23 December, 2015

Two days National Seminar on
"SKILLING OF YOUTH FOR ZERO UNEMPLOYMENT"
22nd and 23rd December 2015

Organised by
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Manipur University
In Collaboration with
CENTRE FOR NORTH EAST
V.V.Giri National Labour Institute

Introductory theme:

Indian economy is fast changing economy in the world. Among the major contributor to the economy, the agriculture sector, secondary and tertiary sectors accounts for about 20%, 25% and 55% of the economy respectively. As we have been witnessing globally that Skills and knowledge are the driving forces of economic growth and social development for any country. Without these two factors a country cannot grow and prosper. No doubt that the Indian economy is growing at a faster rate but if we want our economy to grow at 8% to 9%, it is required that the secondary and tertiary sectors grow at 10% to 11%, assuming agriculture grows at 4%.

In such a scenario, it is obvious that a large portion of the workforce would migrate from the primary sector (agriculture) to the secondary and tertiary sectors. However, the skill sets that are required in the manufacturing and service sectors are quite different from those in the agriculture sector. This implies that there is/will be a large skill gap when such a migration occurs, as evidenced by a shrinking employment in the agriculture sector. This scenario necessitates skill development in the workforce.

Out of the current workforce of about 450 million, only about 8%-9% are engaged in the organized/formal sector. In India, only about 5% of the workforce has marketable skills, as compared to 50% to 60% in other developed countries of the world. The magnitude of the challenge is further evident from the fact that about 12 million persons are expected to join the workforce every year. Thus, India is expected to be home to a skilled workforce of 500 million by 2022.

On the other hand, India, at present, is recognized as one of the youngest nations of the world with over 50% of the population under the age of 30 years. More than 42% of the total population of the country falls in the age group from 15-29 years and will be 48% in 2016. By 2020, India is set to become the world's youngest country with 64% of its population in the working age group. It is estimated that by 2025, India will have 25% of the world's total workforce.

In order to harness the full demographic dividend, India needs high quality skill base educational system which is affordable, flexible and relevant to the individuals, as well as to needs of the society as a whole. Today, the country faces a demand-supply mismatch as the economy needs more skilled workforce as the managers and entrepreneurs than produced annually. In fact, the majority of the educational institutions of higher learning remain almost disconnected with the requirement of the workplace.

The North Eastern Region of India covers a total land area of 2,62,179 square kilometers, which is about 8% of the total geographical area of the country. The region comprises of the eight states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. The total youth population in the region is about 4% of the total youth population of the country which is about 20,22,527 youths in the age group of 15 to 35 years, as of 2009-10.

As of 2009-10, youth unemployment (for the age group 15 to 35 years) in the region stood at 14.47% and 9.57% for the urban and rural areas, respectively. This represents a relatively higher proportion compared to the all India level at 6.58% and 3.86%, respectively for urban and rural areas. Skills development or skilling of youth can, therefore, be seen as the needs of the hour and prioritizing it to meet the increasing demands of the labour market constitute a challenge of mega proportions.

Keeping this in view the present seminar will highlight on various issues related to skills and its development such as significance of skills, classification of skills and areas of skills need to be imparted to our youth of both educated and drop out youth so that they can immediately start their business enterprise with a full support from the skill development agencies of the country.

Objectives of the seminar

The propose seminar will have the following objectives:
i) To evaluate the performance of different agencies undertaken for skills development programme in the state.
ii) To find out the different potential skills available for livelihood in Manipur
iii) To study the present job and its skills requirement for alleviating poverty in the state
iv) To know the impact of skills development on the economy of the state
v) To place the role of government for promotion and development skills in the state in particular and country in general

Broad theme of the Seminar

To attain the above objectives, following broad theme of the seminar have been identified:
i) Skills and livelihood
ii) Skilling of youth
iii) Skills avenues in Manipur
iv) Performance appraisal of Institute/ Agencies imparting skills education
v) Government's role for skilling of youth
vi) Challenges and opportunities of skilling
vii) Skills development and poverty alleviation
vii)Zero unemployment through skilling

Time and Venue

The seminar will take place at Court Hall, Manipur University on 22nd & 23rd December 2015. The residential guests and participants will arrive at the University on the evening of 21st December 2015 and all the guests will leave on the 24th December 2015.

Important Dates

Submission of Abstracts & Full Papers: On or Before 5th December 2015
Acceptance of Paper: 10th December 2015
Registration Deadline: Before 15th December 2015
Date of Seminar: 22nd and 23rd December 2015

Participants

The seminar will host a maximum of 100 participants. Participants may be academicians, policy makers, planners, researchers, social activities, practitioners, students and research scholars who can directly and indirectly contribute in the form of active participation in the deliberation related to skills development strategy and skilling of youth for zero unemployment.

Submission Guidelines

Research papers and cases based on research, experience, or promising ideas focusing on any of the stated objectives and themes of the seminar are invited. The papers will be selected on the basis of their potential to contribute towards skilling of youth and avenue for employment. All papers will be assessed by a panel of experts.

Interested participants may please submit the abstract and full paper for review on or before 5th December 2015. The chance of acceptance will be relatively very high, if the author could submit the full papers in time. The abstracts/ papers should be in MS Word (Word 2007 and above) format with double space, Times Roman font and font size 12 on single side of the paper. The papers should have an abstract of not more than 500 words and the full paper should be within 5000 words including tables and figures.

Each paper should contain a title page specifying the title of the paper, full name, affiliation, telephone/ fax number and the e-mail address of the authors in separate sheet for review of the paper. The papers must be sent via e-mail to [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] before the deadline. Authors of all papers accepted for the seminar will be required to give copyright declaration for publication. The selected papers will be published in an edited volume by a reputed publisher from New Delhi.

Expected outcomes

The seminar invites key resource persons in the relevant sub themes to an open discussion during the seminar. Thus, the resource persons can benefit from the knowledge that researchers have generated, while researchers can cross-check the validity of their findings with those, who work at different level of skilling, provide avenue for employment and economic empowerment.

Accommodation facilities

All the facilitators/ resource persons invited for the seminar will be accommodated at suitable Hotel in the city. Further, paper presenters invited from other states will be accommodated at Manipur University Guest House and provide local hospitality including food and lodging.

Publication

Selected paper presented in the seminar will be published in edited volume with ISBN by a New Delhi based Publisher after full revision of the papers.

How to reach Manipur University

Manipur University is located 8 Km far from the Imphal city on the western side of National Highway No-2 (Indo-Myanmar Road). Imphal city is well connected from Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Agartala and Silchar by Air. Airport is 7 Km far from the city. Further, it is also well connected from Guwahati via Kohima and Silchar by National Highway No-2 and NH-37.

Registration fee

Category A: Academicians Rs. 500/-
Category B: Young Researchers, Students and Volunteers Rs. 200/-
Category C: Paper Contributors/Resource Persons No registration fee
Category D: Open Rs. 500/-
(Note: Registration fee include Seminar Kits; Certificate of Participation; Lunch, Tea and Snacks during the seminar)

Mode of Payment

Payments can be made through crossed demand draft drawn in favour of "Department of Commerce, Manipur University", payable at Bank of Baroda, Manipur University and sent to the Seminar Director, Department of Commerce, Manipur University Or
Payments can be by electronic fund transfer. For this, the bank details are as follows:
Account Name: Department of Commerce, Manipur University
Account Number: 4900100005260
Bank Name: BANK OF BARODA
Bank Branch Name: Bank of Baroda, MU (Branch Code: )
Bank Address: Manipur University Campus, Canchipur-795 003
IFSC Code: BARBOUNIMAN
MICR Code: 795012005
NOTE: In case of electronic money transfer, please submit a copy of money transfer record with details of bank, amount, transaction number and date. The bank proof must be attached with registration form.

Address for Communication

Dr. A.Rajmani Singh
Seminar Convener
Professor and Head
Department of Commerce
Manipur University, Canchipur
Imphal-795003
Email: nssyzu2015(aT)gmail(doT)com/ rajaheibam64(aT)gmail(doT)com

Mr. Otojit Kshetrimayum
Seminar C0-Convener
Associate Fellow & Coordinator
Centre for North East
V. V. Giri National Labour Institute
Sector-24, Noida-201301
Uttar Pradesh
Email: otojit(aT)gmail(doT)com