Officials along with the faculty and students during the Viksit Bharat 2047 seminar programme held at St Joseph University on August 13.
Chümoukedima, August 14 (MExN): A state-level students’ seminar on “Viksit Bharat @ 2047” was held at St Joseph University, Chümoukedima, on August 13, bringing together students, academicians and researchers to deliberate on pathways for transforming the Northeast into a developed economy by 2047.
The opening session began with the National Anthem and University Anthem sung by MA third-semester students.
Dr Debojit Konwar, Head of the Department of Economics, delivered the welcome address and emphasised the importance of research in nation-building. He also expressed gratitude to the participants and university management for supporting the event.
The Department of Economics also released an abstract book containing research papers presented at the seminar. Dy Registrar Dr Sr Thianes Mary DMI ceremonially handed over the publication to resource person Rarenbenla Longkumer, Officer on Special Duty at the Nagaland Hotel and Tourism Development Corporation Ltd.
The keynote addresses focused on transforming North East India into a developed economy by 2047 through innovative thinking, skill development and collective efforts towards nation-building.
Dr Sr Thianes Mary DMI said the Northeast was a powerhouse of talent and cultural heritage and that every individual, irrespective of geographical location, had a responsibility to contribute to national development.
Rarenbenla Longkumer stressed the importance of character as the foundational infrastructure of a nation and encouraged students to apply their knowledge practically in both urban and rural settings.
Dr Elangbam Haridev Singh, Head of the Department of Management, further elaborated on the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and set the stage for the technical sessions.
The seminar featured presentations of 27 research papers by students from colleges and universities across several states, besides international participation from Zambia.
The papers were presented across three technical sessions covering different sub-themes related to economic transformation.
Technical Session I, chaired by Dr Aomatsung at the university auditorium, focused on “Economic Empowerment, Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Livelihoods”. Presentations covered sustainable tourism development, youth entrepreneurship, organic farming, social media marketing for startups, financial inclusion for micro-entrepreneurship, paddy farming economics, climate change and green economic growth, MSMEs and inclusive development, coffee farming viability and consumer satisfaction studies.
Technical Session II, chaired by Dr Patrick Praveen Dukpa at the seminar hall, focused on “Human Capital, Governance & Technological Transformation”. Papers examined human capital development among Naga women, skill development and employment generation, the Naga Peace Process and its economic potential, tribal institutions and inclusive development, smart cities in Nagaland, decentralised governance through village councils, digital education and skill development, digital innovation in India and labour market transformation.
Technical Session III was conducted online under the guidance of Dr J Suresh Kumar and featured presentations from institutions across India and abroad, including DMI St Eugene University, Zambia, and universities in Assam.
The session addressed specialised topics including medication adherence, small business effectiveness, infrastructure development, gender and labour dynamics and inclusive growth initiatives.
The diverse range of research papers reflected the participants’ engagement with contemporary economic issues and their efforts to identify innovative solutions for regional development, organisers said.
The programme concluded with the presentation of the seminar report by Dr J Suresh Kumar, followed by distribution of certificates and a vote of thanks by Dr Patrick, Assistant Professor, St Joseph University.
The seminar was appreciated for encouraging student research and promoting dialogue on the developmental aspirations of North East India in the journey towards Viksit Bharat @ 2047.
