Development of North-Eastern Region by enhancing the Training/Education capacity in the Information, Electronics and Communications Technology area

The Union Cabinet today approved the initiation of the project entitled ‘Development of North Eastern Region by enhancing Training and Education Capacity in the Information, Electronics and Communication Technologies (IECT) area’ to be implemented by National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), an Autonomous Society under the Department of Electronics and Information Technology. The total budget outlay of the project is Rs.388.68 crore (Capital Expenditure Rs.266.25 crore and Recurring Expenditure Rs.122.43 crore). The Department’s contribution in the form of grants-in-aid is Rs.347.88 crore spread over a period of five years.

The project would result in enhanced capacity in terms of training/education in IECT sector for the youth of North-Eastern Region. The availability of trained professionals in the IECT area is expected to attract entrepreneurs/industrial houses to set up industries in the region, leading to its overall socio-economic development.

The project would benefit the student community/ youth , faculty members, entrepreneurs, local industry, government employees, educated employed, various disadvantaged sections of the society (viz. Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/ Other Backward Classes/ minorities, school dropouts persons with disabilities, economically weaker sections, etc.) of the North-East Region, etc. About 45,000 students are expected to be enrolled/trained in various long-term/short term courses in five years in the proposed six upgraded centres and 12 extension centres.

Background:

The ‘North-Eastern Region Vision 2020’ document while analysing the population growth in many of the North Eastern States indicates that a substantial proportion of the population is below 14 years. It indicates that education would be the most critical input to empower the young people. The document also mentions that human resource is the single most promising development asset of the North East. The literacy level in the region is above the national average. However their potential is not being utilised due to inadequate access to quality education, vocational education, training in languages, training in computers and information technology, technical, entrepreneurship, and soft skills. This project aims at capacity building in the North-East that would contribute in attracting IECT industries and generate a pool of jobs leading to overall socio-economic development of the region.