Constituency level career counseling for students launched from West Pendam

AREA MLA HOPES THAT INITIATIVE WILL BE TAKEN TO ALL CONSTITUENCIES OF THE STATE
CENTRAL PENDAM, 01 Dec: A two-day Constituency Level Career Counseling Programme for students of Classes IX to XII of West Pendam constituency was inaugurated by the area MLA, Industries Minister Neeru Sewa, at the Central Pendam Senior Secondary School today.

Addressing the gathering of teachers and students, the Minister stressed that students in rural areas, although they had access to good schools now, were still unawares of the many career options available to them now or about the several schemes made available by the government to prepare them for a better future. The special programme which they were today part of, the Minister pointed out, was to inform them of such opportunities that their generation now enjoys.
“I come from a similar background and did my schooling in a school similar to this, so I know what it is like and how it is not easy to decide about the future. It was then that I decided to do something for the children of my constituency and help guide the future generation so that they can stand on their own feet once they finish their schooling,” she said.
She further informed that before organizing the programme, she interacted with the students of the constituency and received mostly negative responses since most of the children had either not heard of the facilities or had no idea about the schemes and programmes of the government. Given this feedback, she realized the need and urgency to hold such a programme to make the children more aware.
“The government is bringing so many industries and companies to Sikkim so that the youth of the State receive more employment opportunities, but still our people are not able to take advantage of these opportunities because they do not have the required skills, so it was necessary to hold such a programme for the children to bring awareness,” she said.
Highlighting that this special initiative has started with West Pendam constituency, the Minister called on officials and others concerned to conduct such awareness and counseling programmes in all the constituencies so that children there could also be made aware of the opportunities and schemes of the government available to them.
Earlier, addressing the gathering, Secretary, Human Resource Development Department, CS Rao, informed that this was the first such programme and congratulated the audience on having received such a responsible MLA who was genuinely concerned about the future of the young.
He also encouraged the children to work hard and fulfill the dreams of their parents, all of whom, without exception, wanted their wards to grow into successful and responsible citizens.
He also detailed the various scholarship schemes initiated by the State government, laying special emphasis on the Chief Minister’s Merit Scholarship Scheme. Under this scheme, 200 children from all over the State securing 70 per cent and above marks are shortlisted and after screening, 20 per cent are sent on full scholarship to reputed schools outside Sikkim and the remaining 80 per cent admitted on scholarship to the best schools in the State.
“The government is extending all necessary facilities, now it is time for the children to become responsible and use these opportunities and schemes to secure a better future for themselves,” he stressed.
The resource persons for the awareness programme were SD Dhakal [Chief Adminsitrator, Capacity Building] who spoke on livelihood schools and courses and trainings offered there; Professor RN Salhan [Dean, Manipal University] who spoke on opportunities in the medical and health sector; N Subba [programming head, 91.9 FM, Siliguri] on career in broadcasting; Lochan Adhikari [HoD, ATTC, Bardang] on advance technical training; Uttam Chettri [Manager, CBI] on banking systems and education loans and Manisha Ghimerey of Mayfair Hotel who spoke on career in the hospitality industry.
The programme was attended by children of Senior Secondary Schools of West Pendam constituency, Pademchey Senior Secondary School, officials of the HRDD, teachers and local people.