An Awareness and Registration Drive on the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS) was conducted at Government Industrial Training Institute, Kohima on November 21.
Director of Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Savio Visa, delivered the welcome address and extended warm greetings to all the distinguished guests. He acknowledged the presence of officials from the Regional Directorate of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, resource persons from the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), members of the Sector Skill Councils, young trainees, and participating establishments. He expressed appreciation to the establishments for taking the time to attend the programme.
Speaking on the significance of the event, Visa said the programme marks an important milestone in strengthening the skill ecosystem of Nagaland. He noted that the state has a talented and motivated youth population, but continues to face a gap between formal training and real-world industry experience.
He stressed that apprenticeship helps bridge this gap by taking learning beyond the classroom and into the workplace, where skills are refined and aligned with industry needs.
He highlighted that under PM-NAPS, the Government of India has introduced a strong framework to encourage industries to engage apprentices, offering financial incentives, flexibility, and digital support through the PM-NAP portal. For a state like Nagaland, where industry exposure is growing but still limited, Visa said the scheme provides an important opportunity to equip youth for meaningful employment while supporting local industries with trained manpower.
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Describing apprenticeship as an investment in the future workforce, Visa emphasised that building a strong apprenticeship culture in Nagaland will help create a generation of confident, skilled and employable youth. He encouraged the establishments present to participate actively, noting that the success of NAPS depends on the involvement of industries and service sectors – whether small enterprises, growing businesses or large institutions.
Visa said that the session includes presentations, hands-on registration on the PM-NAP portal and networking interactions with Sector Skill Councils and Third-Party Aggregators were designed to provide clarity and support to all stakeholders. He urged participants to use the platform effectively by asking questions, sharing challenges and exploring new possibilities.
The programme also included a presentation on PM-NAPS by Assistant Project Officer Menguzelie, followed by a discussion with the resource persons and interaction with the participants. The event concluded with a vote of thanks offered by the Principal of Government ITI Kohima, Er. Enchiba Longkumer.
