Skilling the Rural Youth of the Northeast of India Through Rural Technologies

Abstract

The proportion of rural youth population in India is about 67–68 per cent of the country’s total population. The North Eastern region of India has its share of over 1.07 per cent of the youth population of the country and also a relatively higher proportion of youth unemployment (57.37 per 1,000), indicating that the challenge is paramount. The eight North Eastern states have their unique requirements in skill-based training, depending on the natural resources, industry and native trades. The governments of these states have embarked on skill development missions to meet the aspirations of youth through training, to enhance employability and employment. However, it is observed that the need-based simple skills required by the rural youth of the North Eastern region which will enable them to take up self-employment were not provided by the multiple agencies—both government and non-government. There is a strong need to bring simple rural technologies to the skill development agenda in the North Eastern region of India while creating a way forward plan. There are success stories of young entrepreneurs who have started on a small scale, overcome the difficulties and have grown to make a name for themselves in the region, providing the necessary fillip to the rural economy of the North Eastern region of India.