New Delhi, July 24 (KNN) Entrepreneurship is the only way out to employ the youths of Nagaland, said Governor of Nagaland PB Acharya.

He was speaking at the conference on Startups and MSMEs in food processing organized by ASSOCHAM, ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun (NRCM) and Ministry of food processing Industries (MoFPI).

He said Nagaland has high number of educated people but still “we are a subsidy state.”

“This tragedy has been created by our own people. Academically we are on top but in reality it is different, he added.

The Governor said the state government cannot employ youths as Government jobs have reached a saturation point and entrepreneurship is the only way out to employ the youths of the State.

Lamenting that there is no cooperative system in the State though there is a Cooperation Department, the Governor stressed that cooperative system must be established and strengthened by the State Government.

He also questioned the role of banks, which are not forthcoming in providing loans to budding entrepreneurs, when the Government of India has already created avenues for them to procure loans through MUDRA schemes.

He asked banks how many loans they have provided to entrepreneurs so far?

He was also critical of the young Naga mindset and said that no Naga wants to work but want to be a king.

The Governor also said ASSOCHAM is the strongest pillar in democracy of the country and it is their duty to empower people of the country.

Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Lithrongla G Chishi stressed on the need for coordination with the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR). She lamented that the Government of India wants the people of Northeast to take up schemes, but no one is coming forward.

She also said that for any program of the Government of India, people need term loan for which the banks need to come forward and make the entrepreneurs aware about the loans.

Calling for working together with the industries department, she asked the entrepreneurs to use the facilities available at Ganeshnagar and set up food processing units.

She also said the department is ready to help anyone taking up entrepreneurship on Naga chilli and tree tomatoes.

Stating that vegetables and fruits are seasonal in nature, she asked the entrepreneurs not to stick to one item only, but think of alternatives to reap the benefits throughout the year.

“We should not be subsidy oriented. We should be sustainable and employment oriented,” she said.

Dr. Om S Tyagi, Assistant Secretary General, ASSOCHAM in his opening remarks thanked all the partners and talked about the shape of food industry in India.

He said that ASSOCHAM will handhold the entrepreneurs and provide them with all marketing infrastructure, which is required by them for selling their processed product across the country and beyond.

He further added that food processing is one of the largest global sectors and the shape of the global food processing industry is constantly changing.