Chief Minister of Manipur, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, flagged off 16 candidates from Manipur who will undergo overseas skill training in different parts of Japan under the State Livelihood Empowerment and Entrepreneurship (SLEE) initiative. The flag-off programme was held at the Chief Minister’s Bungalow in Imphal on Friday.
During the interaction, the Chief Minister advised the candidates to never forget their roots. He presented each of them with a replica of the Pena, an indigenous musical instrument of Manipur, and urged them to always remember that they are Manipuris, even while staying in Japan. Khemchand Singh emphasized that the candidates will be exposed to a foreign land, culture, traditions, and development, but they should remain connected to their identity.
The Chief Minister cited the example of Singapore, a small nation with one of the highest per capita income in Southeast Asia, where people are proud to call themselves Singaporeans. He noted that in the past, people of Manipur proudly identified themselves as Manipuris, but now many hesitate to do so. Khemchand Singh stressed that this mind-set needs to be changed and everyone should be proud of being a Manipuri.
Khemchand Singh also informed that public transport services on the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati route along National Highway-2 have resumed, marking an important step towards free movement. He urged the people to use the government transport services without fear, highlighting that the airfare for Imphal-Guwahati flights is very high and it is like a punishment for the people of the state.
An MoU was signed between the State Bank of India (SBI) and SLEE to provide financial support to the candidates. The candidates have completed Japanese language training from the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) International Academy and have secured jobs in various parts of Japan, including Tokyo, Hokaido, and Okinawa, in the healthcare and hospitality sectors.
The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of SLEE and SBI officials for their commendable service in providing skill training and financial support to eligible youths of the state and helping them get suitable jobs abroad. One of the candidates, Dhanapriya Tensubam, expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for the initiative and promised to work with professionalism and never forget her roots as a proud Manipuri.
