Editor,

I commend the article by Bojum Lusi Sorum published on 19 May 2026, for raising a timely and much-needed discussion on the future of our society. Issues like ILP, ST protection, and the scrapping of the 80:20 ratio are genuine concerns and deserve serious attention. The efforts of youth leaders and organisations raising these issues are commendable. However, beyond protests and emotional reactions, there lies a bigger challenge before us – changing our mindset and preparing ourselves for a future driven by self-reliance and economic productivity.

Being an Assistant Professor, for the last one decade of my teaching career, I have consistently encouraged my students to look beyond the narrow boundary of government jobs and develop an exploring nature. The future belongs to those who can think differently, create their own ecosystem, and walk paths that others hesitate to explore. “If everyone walks on the same road, traffic is inevitable.” Success today is no longer confined to a government office table. The world has changed, and opportunities are no longer locked inside appointment orders alone.

I consider myself a living example of this mindset. Earlier, I worked at a Central University, Rajiv Gandhi University, as a Guest Faculty, and presently I am working in a private institution, Don Bosco College. Even though it is a private set-up, there is genuine satisfaction in the environment I work in and in guiding young minds with the best of my ability. At the same time, I continue exploring opportunities for personal and professional growth. The idea is simple – growth begins the moment we stop limiting ourselves to only one destination.

To a great extent, I can see that our youths have started changing their mindset, which is a positive sign. Some of my students have turned entrepreneurs, some are student leaders in AAPSU and ANSU, while others have become engineers. But the hill is still tall enough to climb. Many are still waiting for one door to open while ignoring the hundreds of windows around them. The reality is simple – no government can create jobs for every educated youth. I have seen it, experienced it, and have also faced this reality personally. Even governments have acknowledged this challenge and introduced schemes like Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Swavalamban Yojana (DDUSY), Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Start-up India, Skill India, and Make in India to promote entrepreneurship, skill development, and self-employment. The question now is not whether opportunities exist, but whether our youths are ready to accept this changing reality.

Unlike olden days, today’s world is like a garden full of opportunities. One only needs the courage to pick a flower and the patience to nurture it. Employability skills, communication skills, professionalism, customer-handling ability, and adaptability have become equally important as degrees and certificates. “A degree may open the door, but skills decide how long one can stay inside.”

At the same time, it is important to understand the harsh reality faced by many youths. A large number of aspirants spend years preparing for APCS, Engineering, NEET, APSSB and various other competitive examinations. Some eventually succeed, but many realise quite late that they may never crack those examinations. By then, valuable years are often lost, and frustration, stress, and self-doubt slowly replace confidence and motivation. There is nothing wrong in dreaming big, but there must always be a parallel plan to move forward in life instead of remaining stuck at one point for years.

No work is small if it provides livelihood, experience, and self-respect. Dependency syndrome cannot build a strong society; productivity can. This is the high time to move towards creating our own ecosystem where every sector is increasingly led and driven by locals and Arunachalees with the required professionalism, which can only come through proper skill development and practical exposure. Once this transformation begins, many social and economic issues will automatically start disappearing from our society.

The real protection of our identity will not come only through slogans and movements, but through economic strength, practical thinking, and willingness to work with dignity. Youths must learn to look beyond what they are traditionally conditioned to see. “If a planted tree does not bear fruit after years of waiting, wisdom lies in planting a more productive one rather than wasting precious time standing under its shade.” Time is precious, ideas are priceless, and opportunities do not wait forever. The sooner this reality is understood, the stronger, self-reliant, and future-ready our society will become.

Dr. Tenzing N.
rangtzidar
Don Bosco College,
Jollang, Itanagar