The National Foundation for India (NFI) organized a two-day Northeast Youth Leaders Conclave on “Empowering Youth Leadership: Bridging Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Inclusive Socio-Economic Development” on 7th and 8th November 2023 at the Capital Convention Centre Kohima, Nagaland.
The conclave co-funded by the European Union and NEIMUN as the knowledge and technical partner, focus on the interconnected themes of mountains – harnessing the rich biodiversity of the region, the strategic Geo-political landscape of the region, the state of inclusive development in Northeast India, and innovation and economic opportunities in the region.
Addressing the opening plenary, Kethosituo Sekhose, Director Youth Resources & Sports, Nagaland said that the North East Region (NER) is perhaps one of the less developed regions of the country and faces many challenges; the important ones being poor infrastructure, particularly in the area of connectivity; remoteness; hilly and difficult terrain; high operational costs; lack of employment opportunities; subsistence farming; resource constraints, etc.
“On many critical parameters in the fields of health, education, infrastructure, etc, the states in the North East are below the national average. Not only is the North East less developed as compared to other states and union territories, but there are also wide interstate and intra-state disparities in terms of the level of development. However, the NER has immense potential for development,” said Sekhose.
He said that the problems of political violence, insurgency, ethnic conflict, migration pressure, inter-state disputes and underdevelopment have become integral to the understanding of the political process and economic development of the NER.
Economic factors appear to be the more potent reason for the continued political unrest and uncertainty in the entire region, he said.
The conclave brings together 100 youth leaders from the North Eastern Region (NER), engaging in relevant discussions, knowledge-sharing, and collaborative actions related to the SDGs. They were provided a platform for dialogue and learning to prepare them to become change agents in their communities and contribute to the sustainable development of the region. They collectively brainstorm, ideate, and strategize for sustainable development, policy transformation, and enhanced community engagement.
As many as 15 youths from Manipur also attended the 2-day long Youth Leaders Conclave Meeting at Kohima.
NFI is an organization committed to ensuring social justice through civic engagement, responsive policy-making and social accountability. Towards promoting social justice, NFI has been strengthening hundreds of civil society organizations (CSOs) for over 30 years. Within the framework of social justice, the thematic focus of NFI encompasses Participation and Inclusion.
