Rethinking Entrepreneurship in Mokokchung

For too long, Mokokchung, like the rest of Nagaland, has been trapped in the mindset that success is defined by securing a government job. This narrow outlook has stifled innovation and limited economic growth. If Mokokchung and Nagaland are to prosper, there must be a fundamental shift in mentality—one that values entrepreneurship just as much as, if not more than, government service.

Student bodies and civil society organizations have long been active in organizing seminars and coaching sessions for academic and competitive exams. While such initiatives are commendable, it is time they extend the same enthusiasm toward entrepreneurship. Workshops on business development, financial literacy, and digital commerce should become as common as tuition for HSLC/HSSLC exams and coaching for UPSC or NPSC. The brightest and smartest individuals should be encouraged to take risks, build enterprises, and create jobs rather than merely competing for a limited number of government posts.

In practical terms, government jobs should perhaps be left to the average achievers, while those with true potential should be guided toward entrepreneurship or other non-conventional career paths. This redirection not only promises economic prosperity but also alleviates the unsustainable dependence on limited government jobs, which absorb only a fraction of the educated youth.

The path to sustainable economic growth lies in consciously building a culture where entrepreneurship is not only encouraged but also actively supported. This requires a collective effort—educational institutions must equip students with business skills, policymakers must create an enabling environment, and society must recognize the value of risk-taking and innovation.

The newly established MSME PCI office and training centre presents an opportunity, but its success will depend on how well our society embraces this shift in mindset. If Mokokchung, and Nagaland, is to thrive in the modern economy, it must produce job creators, not just job seekers.

MT