Living in a foreign country, half a world away from home, makes good news from one’s homeland, especially heartening. Reports of progress, new opportunities and young people preparing for brighter futures bring both pride and hope. A recent two-day programme at Toluvi village ground was one such example. It brought together a futsal tournament, career fair and medical camp, showing how sport can connect young people with practical opportunities in work, skills, health and enterprise.
According to Eastern Mirror, the event was organised by the NPF Dimapur-III Youth Wing in collaboration with YouthNet. Smt. Hekani Jakhalu, MLA for Dimapur-III and Advisor for Industries and Commerce, attended as the special guest. She encouraged young people to explore the training, career and self-employment opportunities offered by participating organisations. She also urged them to look beyond government jobs and consider entrepreneurship and private-sector work.
Her message is timely. Government service remains an important aspiration, but it cannot provide jobs for every job seeker. Entrepreneurship, private-sector work, vocational training and overseas employment can broaden young people’s choices, provided they have reliable information, fair access and support that continues beyond recruitment.
Nagaland has already begun building a pathway to overseas employment. In January 2026, Nagaland–Japan Connect brought young people into contact with Japanese employers and partners. According to an official state publication, the initiative aims to develop employment opportunities, skills and institutional cooperation. The government had also reported earlier discussions between the Department of Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and a Japanese recruitment partner about the Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker programmes.
At the 2026 event, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that more than 300 young people from Nagaland were already working in Japan, according to Morung Express. As the initiative develops, a dated update from the concerned Department could help the public understand its progress. It could identify the source of the figures and the agencies involved in recruitment and training, and report how many candidates have completed training, received visas and begun working in Japan.
As the programme expands, equal opportunity should be central to its design. Young people from every tribe and district should have a fair chance to learn about vacancies, apply and qualify. Selection criteria, training places and interview procedures should be made public in advance, with candidates assessed against clear, job-related standards. The government could also publish anonymised selection figures by district and gender, while protecting applicants’ privacy and providing a clear way to raise concerns. These steps would help make opportunities accessible across Nagaland and strengthen confidence in the selection process.
Preparing candidates for work abroad also means protecting them after they leave home. Before departure, applicants should receive clear information about contracts, wages, deductions, accommodation, workplace conditions, visa rules and emergency contacts. They should know how to raise a grievance and what support is available if they face exploitation, illness or an early return. Language training is essential, but so are safe recruitment, fair contracts and continued contact with workers and their families.
The Toluvi programme demonstrated how sport, career guidance and health services can complement one another. A tournament can bring young people together, a career fair can connect them with employers and training providers, and a medical camp can improve access to healthcare. Smt. Hekani encouraged participants to make use of these opportunities and share information with friends and neighbours. In an interview with Eastern Mirror, she also spoke about the challenge of turning investor interest into actual investment, and the importance of infrastructure and connectivity. She cited the development of Bamunpukhuri Road as an effort to improve access to Toluvi Industrial Park and provide commuters with an alternative route.
These priorities are linked. Investors need reliable infrastructure and confidence that businesses can operate; local entrepreneurs need training, finance and access to markets; and young people need credible routes from education to employment. Promoting “Made in Nagaland” products should go hand in hand with practical support for producers, including help with quality, packaging, branding and market access, along with clear information about government schemes. The state’s PM Vishwakarma catalogue, presented by Smt. Hekani in her official capacity, reflects efforts to support artisans with training, resources and market access.
To build on this work, the opportunities highlighted at Toluvi should be fair, measurable and accessible across Nagaland. Appreciation is due to MLA Hekani Jakhalu and the Department of Industries and Commerce for encouraging young people to develop skills, pursue enterprise and explore private-sector work. Their efforts can make a greater difference when young people from every tribe and district have an equal chance to participate, workers receive dependable protection, and the public can see what has been achieved.
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-A. Anato Swu
Satakha Town
(Writing from County Antrim, Northern Ireland)
(The views expressed are those of the writer and not of the newspaper)
