IndiGlobal Bharat Summit 2023: Rising Northeast – Event Report

The Government of Assam and Assam Skill Development Mission (ASDM) in association with IndiGlobal Media Network and Indian Institute of Technology(IIT), Guwahati organised the two-day event IndiGlobal Bharat Summit 2023 on 27th and 28th February 2023. 

Besides knowledge exchange, the two-day summit aimed to develop collaborations between government, industry and academia in sectors like Education, Skill, Health, Energy, Agro-based Industries, Tourism and Technology.

We thank Dr. B. Kalyan Chakravarthy, IAS, Principal Secretary, Govt. of Assam, Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Labour Welfare Departments for inviting us to be part of the prestigious 2-day event IndiGlobal Bharat Summit 2023 being held at IIT Guwahati. It was a pleasure to capture the event live and learn from the experts from industry, academia and government. 

Here is the message from Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Honorable Chief Minister of Assam, inviting various stakeholders from the government, industry and academia to initiate the dialogue and establish effective collaborations along with contributing to the growth of Assam and the Northeast region,

IndiGlobal Bharat Summit 2023, Day 1

The two-day IndiGlobal Bharat Summit 2023 began with the lamp-lighting ceremony by the Chief Guest Shri Jayanta Mallabaruah, Honourable Minister for Public Health Engineering, Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship and Tourism Department, Govt of Assam.

Inaugural session: The Northeast Region coming of age

The inaugural session on “The Northeast Region Coming of Age” was chaired by Dr. B. Kalyan Chakravarthy, IAS, Principal Secretary, Govt. of Assam, Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Labour Welfare Departments.  Several key points were discussed by the distinguished guests during the session. 

One of the primary topics was the Northeast Region’s openness to welcoming investments, providing immense potential and business opportunities. Additionally, the region’s young population was identified as an advantage for developing a skilled workforce. Another significant point raised was the Northeast’s position as a gateway to Southeast Asia, which has been highlighted by India’s shift from the Look East Policy to the Act East Policy. 

The region was also identified as having significant opportunities for medical tourism and as an unlimited potential tourist destination. Overall, the panel discussion emphasized the Northeast’s potential as a region that is rapidly developing and poised for significant growth in the coming years.

One of the key highlights of the session was the launch of the Special Magazine “Rising Assam” by the Chief Guest Shri Jayanta Mallabaruah.

Panel discussion: Education and Skill Development

After an insightful industry presentation by representatives from HCL and Ansys, the next panel discussion focused on various aspects of education and skill development. Shri Subhash Chandra Das, IAS (Retd) Vice-chancellor, Assam Skill University moderated the panel discussion.

The key points of the panel discussion were – 

• Role of Universities in skilling
• Importance of upskilling and reskilling
• Role of sector skill councils (SSCs)
• Multidisciplinary approach and employment opportunities
• Collaborations in skilling and research

Panel discussion: Taking Skill, Vocational & Technical Education to the next level

The IndiGlobal Bharat Summit 2023 hosted an insightful panel discussion on how to elevate skill, vocational, and technical education to greater heights. Esteemed guests including Shri Ankur Jain, IPS(MD, ASDM), Shri Ashwin Gowda, IRS(MD, Karnataka Skill Development Corporation Ltd), Dr. Abhilasha Gaur (COO, ESSCI), Shri Subbaraman B (VC, HCL), and Shri Abir Aich (Senior Vice President Aptech Limited) graced the stage with their expert opinions and valuable insights.

The panel discussion shed light on the importance of skill, vocational, and technical education in today’s dynamic job market, and explored ways to enhance the quality and reach of such education. The contributions of the esteemed guests were instrumental in providing a comprehensive roadmap towards a brighter future for India’s workforce.

Panel discussion: Sector Skill Councils (SSCs)

The last session focused on Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), where leaders from five out of 36 SSCs discussed the importance and role of SSCs in the northeast region. The panel also briefly discussed the scope that each industry has and how the respective SSCs can help the region meet the industry-aggregate demand.  Apart from the scope and benefits, the panel discussion also focused on various key points such as the importance of multi-skilling, RPL, and NCrF. The session was moderated by Dr. Sujiv Nair, Global CHRO, Re Sustainability Limited & Former CEO, of Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge. 

The eminent panellists for the last session were Dr. Swapna Mishra, Chief Operation Officer and Officiating CEO, Textiles  Sector Skill Council; Shri Brig Yogesh Kapoor,  VSM (Retd.), Director General, Water management & Plumbing Skill Council  (Formerly Indian  Plumbing Skill Council); Shri Rajeev Garg, Executive Director and CEO, Gem & Jewellery  Skill Council of India; Shri Sushim Banerjee,  CEO of Iron and Steel SSC and Shri Mohit Soni, CEO, Media and Entertainment Skills Council.

Day one of the summit ended with cultural programmes and a vibrant performance by a local band.

IndiGlobal Bharat Summit 2023, Day 02

Day 2 of the event commenced with a virtual presentation by Dr. K. Hari Prasad, President of Apollo Hospital on the role and vision of Apollo Hospital towards the growth and progress of Assam and other Northeast regions. 

The changing face of governance

The presentation was followed by a panel discussion on the changing face of governance in the Northeast region. 

The eminent panellists of the session were Ms. Radhika Rastogi, IAS, Special Director, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) Mussoorie, Uttarakhand; Ms. Keerthi Jalli, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup District and Shri P Narahari, Secretary, MSME Dept, Government of Madhya Pradesh.

The key focus areas of the panel discussion were,

• Technology interventions in governance
• Socio-economic development
• Transforming rural landscape
• Role of social media and bureaucracy 

The session was interactive which provided the students with much-needed insight into various facets of governance and bureaucracy.

Role of higher educational institutions in the age of Industry 4.0 to 5.0 age

A panel discussion on the role of higher educational institutions in the age of Industry 4.0 to 5.0 was conducted. This session was moderated by Shri Ashok Puranik, AIIMS Director, Guwahati. 

The focus of the panel discussion was mostly on,

• How research and innovation leapfrogged in the past few years
• What is the role of universities in generating local employment and mitigating local problems
• Growth of Higher Education in NER
• Rising demand for higher education and the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Northeast region

Break the Bias – a panel discussion on the skills and attitudes for employability of students and youth of the Northeast

After a presentation on the scope and opportunities in the water management sector in the Northeast region, Break the Bias – a panel discussion on the skills and attitudes for employability of students and youth of the Northeast was held. This was moderated by Ms. Sunita Bhuyan, a noted Violinist, Vocalist and HR practitioner.

Shri Srikanth Sinha, CEO TASK; Shri Saurabh Gupta, COO, KIMS Sunshine Hospital; Shri KB Rajendran, Partner, Suraj Foundation; Shri Nishith Upadhyaya, SD, Knowledge & Advisory Services, Society for HRM and Juhi Baruah, HR, Don Bosco University shared their views on the unique and standard skills that a student needs to develop and get trained on to be able to have sustainable employment and career.

Here are a few key points from the panel discussion,

• Important skills needed to have sustainable employment and career for students
• Challenges in attracting youth to science and technology streams
• Challenges in generating employment opportunities and the way forward
• Importance of mental health for a successful career growth

Skills for Sustainable Development, Environment, and Green Jobs

The panel discussion on “Skills for Sustainable Development, Environment, and Green Jobs” brought together renowned experts, including Dr. Arup Misra, Chairman of ASPCB, Shri Arpit Sharma, Chief Operating Officer of Skill Council for Green Jobs, Mr. J N Khataniar, Chairman of CII-IGBC North East Chapter, and Shri Utpal Baruah, CAO of Guwahati International Airport. 

The esteemed panellists shared their valuable insights and opinions on the topic, highlighting the critical importance of developing the necessary skills to promote sustainable development, preserve the environment and create green jobs. 

The discussion emphasized the need for individuals to acquire relevant skills and training to tackle the growing challenges of climate change and environmental degradation. Overall, the panel discussion showcased the collective efforts of industry leaders and experts towards building a sustainable future, driven by innovation and skills development.

Handloom sector in the Northeast Region, Opportunities and Challenges

The last panel discussion of the two-day IndiGlobal Bharat Summit focussed on the opportunities and challenges in the handloom sector in the Northeast region. The panel was moderated by Dr. Swapna Mishra, Chief Operation Officer and Officiating CEO, of the Textile Sector Skill Council.

Here are the key points from the panel discussion,

• The importance of marketing and branding linkages to promote handloom products effectively was emphasized.
• Standardisation issues were discussed, and the need for developing standardized processes to ensure quality control and product consistency was stressed.
• The Central and State Government schemes to promote traditional handlooms and provide support to local artisans were discussed.
• The marketing of Assamese Gamosa and Mekhla Chadar was a key topic, emphasizing the need to leverage their unique qualities to expand their reach and promote their distinctiveness.
• The discussion also highlighted the challenges that need to be addressed to enable the growth and development of the handloom sector in the region.

IndiGlobal Bharat Summit 2023: Valedictory ceremony

The two-day IndiGlobal Bharat Summit 2023 concluded on a high note with a splendid valedictory ceremony, which included a special appearance by the distinguished guest, Shri Ranoj Pegu, Hon’ble Minister of Education, Assam. 

The ceremony marked the end of an exciting event that brought together leaders and experts from various sectors to deliberate on critical issues facing India and the world. The vote of thanks expressed gratitude to all the participants, organizers, and attendees who contributed to the success of the summit. The valedictory ceremony provided a fitting conclusion to an exceptional event that celebrated innovation, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration for the greater good of society.