Two-day Northeast youth leaders' conclave begins in Kohima

Kohima, Nov 7 (PTI) About 100 delegates from the eight Northeastern states gathered in Kohima on Tuesday to deliberate on the issues that the region is facing with a focus on socio-economic development, at a two-day conclave.

The 'North East India Youth Leaders Conclave' has been organised by the National Foundation for India (NFI) in collaboration with Nagaland's Department of Youth Resources and Sports (YRS), and co-funded by the European Union along with North East India Model of United Nations (NEIMUN).

In his opening remarks, NFI executive director Biraj Patnaik said this conclave presents a remarkable opportunity for regional youth leaders to convene, exchange experiences, and mutually enrich their perspectives.

The target is to enhance the young leaders’ understanding of the region's socio-economic landscape, he said.

Speaking at the programme, Nagaland's Advisor for Water Resources Tongpang Ozukum said the region is blessed with incredible natural beauty, rich biodiversity and cultural heritage.

'We know the potentials of our rich ecosystem and we also know the challenges that lie ahead of us and therefore a conclave like this must discuss such issues and come out with certain measures in order to sustainably protect and preserve the region's rich biodiversity for now and posterity,” he said.

Nagaland's YRS director Kethosituo Sekhose said the Northeast is perhaps one of the least developed regions of the country and faces many challenges, including poor infrastructure.

Despite the immense potential for development, the problems of political violence, insurgency, ethnic conflict, migration pressure and inter-state disputes have been ailing the region, he said.

'Young leaders play a multifaceted role in achieving inclusive development by examining their contributions, challenges they face, and the potential for lasting impact,' he said. PTI NBS NBS SOM