Engineering graduates told to explore avenues beyond govt. jobs

KOHIMA — Elaborating on the saturation of jobs in government sector compounded with an increased in huge number of job seekers, the chief engineer of Public Works Department (Housing), Hozheto Shikhu, on Tuesday called upon the engineering graduates to change their perspective and explore opportunities beyond government jobs.

He stated this during the 34th general conference-cum-felicitation programme of the Civil Engineers Association of Nagaland (CEAN) held at the State Academy Hall in Kohima.

Observing that Nagas have relied too much on government jobs despite a paradigm shift, he pointed out that with about 150,000 job seekers, there are only about 600-700 job openings in the NPSC, resulting in a placement percentage of just 0.466%, while 99.6% remain without placement.

He also highlighted the significant unemployment issue in Nagaland, where the youth population stands at 610,886 with approximately 150,000 youth not engaged in any jobs.

Shikhu noted that Nagaland has the second-highest unemployment rate in the country with 137,000 employees and only 6.25% employed in the government sector, which is far above the national average. He stated that the government cannot accommodate more employees as the central government has directed the state to reduce its workforce by about half.

Shikhu asserted that engineering graduates should not focus solely on building roads and infrastructure but also explore other sectors such as tourism industry, considering the vast potential Nagaland possesses, blessed with natural beauty and cultural significance. He encouraged graduates to leverage their fluency in English and hospitable nature, which are significant assets.

Pointing out the Nagas’ fondness for meat, he urged the graduates to consider small-scale businesses in meat production including pork, poultry and beef.

He further emphasised the need to explore locally available means that remain underexplored, highlighting the dignity of labour as many sectors are dominated by non-Nagas even in the construction industry.

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Dr. Nzanthung Ngullie, associate dean (consultancy) of the Department of Civil Engineering at the National Institute of Technology, Nagaland, pointed out some bad practices prevailing in the state such as poorly detailed project reports (DPR) and landowners taking contracts for construction that resulted in substandard work quality.

He also mentioned positive initiatives like the Lighthouse Nectar Projects funded by the World Bank and JICA, funded by a Japanese agency.

Ngullie opined that the ecosystem for engineering in the state is growing but highlighted the lack of soil investigation and environmental impact firms, which are necessary for development.

He also identified key areas for research such as smart city initiatives, sustainable transportation alternatives and sustainable construction materials, emphasising the incorporation of AI and machine learning into engineering practices.

Ngullie projected that significant infrastructure investment would come to the state if the economy continues to grow, with improvements in competency and quality control, urging that Nagaland should not be left behind in the central government’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Zubemo Tsanglao, joint director of Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship department, highlighted various initiatives taken by the state government for graduate engineers and urged them to upskill themselves.

Sulanthung K Tsopoe, SDO of the Urban Engineering Wing, encouraged CEAN members to dream big, work hard, learn from both failure and success and to act instead of waiting for “Apna Time Aayega.”

CEAN president, Choice Pielie, informed that CEAN was formed in 1990 by visionary engineers who recognised the needs of future generations. Since its inception, CEAN has set a standard for promoting civil engineering and has been a staunch advocate for protecting engineers’ rights, he said.

Asserting that CEAN has built a reputation for honesty and integrity, he encouraged the members to carry forward the legacy and uphold the values of an engineer.

Pielie also stated that CEAN and CTAN have worked together to combat corruption in the state’s systems and would continue to oppose any malpractices.

He informed that CEAN is one of the largest associations in the state with 1,025 registered members.

The CEAN report was presented by Lhoumetha Puyie, assistant general secretary, and the finance secretary’s report was presented by Vekrolu Swuro.

On the occasion CEAN also felicitated its members who have cleared examinations in NPSC and NSSB.

Meanwhile, CEAN has announced new team of office bearers for the tenure 2024-26 led by Kinito Q Wotsa as president, Rakovi Pohena as vice president and Kasheli Achumi as general secretary.