MoS Ranjan exhorts entrepreneurs to create jobs
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 19 2022:
Union minister of state for education and external affairs Dr RK Ranjan has stressed the role of entrepreneurs in creating jobs for the youth, which can further prevent substance abuse and also promote work culture among the youth.
The union MoS inaugurated Agro and Spice Products Processing and Packaging Unit set up by Centre for Rural Empowerment and Development Organisation (CREDO), Manipur under North East Centre for Technology Application and Research (NECTAR) at Kongpal Chanam Leikai, Imphal East on Friday.
Addressing the event as chief guest, Dr Ranjan said that the central government is taking up policies to double farmers' income through various initiatives.
While pointing out that the state is blessed with natural resources and scientists have identified the state and its surrounding areas as a biodiversity hotspot, he said it is time for people of Manipur to avail benefits of this rich biodiversity and bring development in different sectors to uplift their status.
Dr Ranjan also stated that there are 86 species of ginger and 65 species of bamboo available in the state and these resources could be exported to different parts of the world after value addition while observing traditional pattern.
Using technology in producing water reed handicrafts products can also boost income.
IBSD in its initial days produced anti-fungus substance for using on fruit bearing plants by using bur mallow (Sampakpi) and UGC trial found it effective.
Entrepreneurs can use such bio-resources of the state to bring out various products, he said, while drawing attention of IBSD towards such technologies.
He also urged the farmers to adopt new technologies formulated by central government institutions in order to bring self-reliance.
The minister also spoke on job creation aspects of National Education Policy 2020 through vocational and skill development trainings and called for making the state a hub for vocational training.
In his address, CREDO advisor Sh Indrakumar said that the unit was set up with the objective to provide assistance to farmers in rural and hill areas.
The new unit will help in value addition of agriculture and spice products of the state and export them in the international market, he added.
NECTAR director general Dr Arun Kumar Sarma presided over the inauguration function while its technical advisor Dr Krishna Kumar, IBSD Manipur scientist (E) Dr H Nanaocha, XS Retail (India) Private Limited founder and CEO Pradeep Singh Shekhawat and Kongpal Chanam Leikai Development Organisation president Thangjam Keshworjit attended as guests of honour.