Imphal, Aug 21 (IANS) Manipur Chief Minister, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, on Friday flagged off 16 candidates from the state who will undergo overseas skill training and take up jobs in different parts of Japan under the State Livelihood Empowerment and Entrepreneurship (SLEE) initiative.
Speaking during the interaction at the Chief Minister’s Bungalow in Imphal, Khemchand Singh advised the candidates never to forget their roots and urged them to remain connected with their identity while living and working abroad.
While presenting each of the candidates with a replica of the Pena, an indigenous musical instrument of Manipur, the Chief Minister urged them to always remember that they are Manipuris, even while staying in Japan.
He said the candidates would be exposed to a foreign country, its culture, traditions and development, but they should remain connected to their roots and preserve their identity.
Citing the example of Singapore, a small nation with one of the highest per capita incomes in Southeast Asia, the Chief Minister said that people there are proud to identify themselves as Singaporeans. He said that in the past, people of Manipur proudly identified themselves as Manipuris, but now many hesitate to do so.
He added that this mindset needs to change and everyone should be proud of being a Manipuri.
The Chief Minister also informed that public transport services on the Imphal–Dimapur (Nagaland)–Guwahati route along National Highway-2 resumed from Friday, marking an important step towards ensuring the free movement of people and restoring normalcy in the state.
He urged the people to use the government transport services without fear.
Khemchand Singh said that airfare between Imphal and Guwahati is very high and described the situation as a kind of punishment for the people of the state.
An MoU was also signed between the State Bank of India (SBI) and SLEE, an undertaking of the Manipur government to provide financial support to the candidates.
The candidates have completed Japanese language training from the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) International Academy and have secured jobs in various parts of Japan, including Tokyo, Hokkaido and Okinawa, in the healthcare and hospitality sectors.
The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of SLEE and SBI officials for their commendable services in providing skill training and financial support to eligible youths of the state and helping them secure suitable employment opportunities abroad.
One of the candidates, Dhanapriya Tensubam, who has secured a job at Miyakojima Tokyu Hotel and Resort in Okinawa, expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for the initiative.
She said that she would work with professionalism and sincerity and would never forget her roots. Dhanapriya also said that she would always remain proud of being a Manipuri while working in Japan.
The flag-off-cum-interaction programme was attended by MLA Kh. Joykisan Singh; Manipur University Vice-Chancellor Prof. R.K. Hemakumar Singh; Secretary, Skill, Labour, Employment and Entrepreneurship, N. Bandana Devi; Deputy General Manager, SBI Zonal Office, Shillong, Ejaz Ahmed; State Engagement Officer of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Masotmi Zimik; and other officials, among others.
–IANS
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