Editor,

I am writing to highlight a critical strategic shift required to elevate the impact of our youth empowerment initiatives in the state. Recent challenges regarding target allocations highlight the urgent need to move away from an over-reliance on unverified private training providers. To protect the public interest, our state capacity-building programmes must be systematically entrusted to government-backed, reputed premier institutions that possess a proven track record, absolute credential transparency, and established benchmark standards.

To make a significant and special flagship program like the Chief Minister Yuva Kaushal Yojana (CMYKY) highly effective, we must integrate our local centre-of-excellence ecosystem alongside national apex bodies like NIELIT, IIE Guwahati, NIESBUD, and CIPET. Specifically, we must forge deep institutional tie-ups with the state's premier academic anchors: the NERIST (North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology), Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), and our network of government ITIs.

Revamping the operational framework of CMYKY through this model will ensure maximum impact across four critical pillars:

Accountability in fund utilisation: Directing capacity-building training through premier government and autonomous organisations ensures that government-allocated funds are properly utilised. This framework eliminates the risks of procedural non-compliance and diverts public money strictly into high-signal, youth-centric programmes.

Institutional synergy & infrastructure: Utilising the advanced laboratory facilities of the NERIST, the research capabilities of Rajiv Gandhi University, and the grassroots technical reach of government ITIs allows the state to deliver top-tier, NSQF-compliant technical training without relying on substandard private infrastructure.

Expert mentorship & advisory boards: By actively involving various heads of departments (HoDs), academic professors, and industry expert professionals from these premier bodies, we can establish an institutional advisory panel. This panel will provide ongoing curriculum updates, strategic mentorship, and strict quality audits for the training modules.

Robust corporate & placement networks: Leveraging the combined placement cells of these apex bodies and universities will seamlessly bridge the gap between our youths and mainstream corporate employment, comfortably meeting the targeted placement benchmark.

In view of the seriousness of the ongoing large-scale allegations of irregularities in the CMYKY, the programme should be immediately placed on hold and thoroughly redesigned into a vibrant, transparent and genuinely youth-oriented initiative, so that the CMYKY becomes a meaningful and lasting benefit for the youths of Arunachal Pradesh. The role of private institutions lacking proven credibility in the relevant field should be discontinued, with preference given to reputed government organisations and institutions of national repute and established excellence, thereby safeguarding the valuable funds of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh from possible misuse.

Akham Wangsu,

RTI & social activist