Youth from northeast could be the engine of growth, says T.N. Governor

Governor R.N. Ravi encourages northeast youngsters to drive growth and change stereotypes, emphasizing their potential and resources.

Youth from the northeast could be the engine of growth and change the narrative that has stereotyped them, said Governor R.N. Ravi. 

“It is the time to seize the opportunity, and young people should take control. You have intellectual and natural resources. You have capital, you have connectivity, you have market resources,” he said. 

The region had seen a transformation in the past decade, with connectivity being established. It can be a model of growth for the country, he said at the inauguration of the National East Development Summit organised at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras here on Tuesday. 

Earlier, people did not get attention as the region was viewed with strategic concern because of its proximity to China. The politics of dividing the people within communities persisted. However, it has changed now with the Union Minister visiting the region which has helped in development.

He acknowledged that there may have been “some minor incidents here and there”. Generally, the story of northeast had been of sadness but now it was the story of happiness, he said.

Mr. Ravi suggested that the students avail themselves of Mudra loan just as people of Tamil Nadu had done. With the collateral free loan, youngsters could become entrepreneurs. “You have travelled from the northeastern regions to Chennai. It is incumbent on you that your takeaway should be that you go back and start a business there. Youngsters can create modern technology to build industry.

“We have to leapfrog because we have lost a lot of time. The country is moving at a much faster pace,” he remarked. The responsibility to make the northeast move at a faster pace rests with youngsters, he said.