Shillong, Jan 13: Digital India Startup Hub through the Software Technology Parks of India wil set up India’s first Centre of Excellence in Online Gaming in Shillong by March 2023.
This was informed by the Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Rajeev Chandrasekhar, on Friday.
The Centre of Excellence in Shillong is expected to catalyse startups and entrepreneurs from the entire North East region to build the Next Gen Online Gaming ecosystem. “It is the vision of PM Shri Narendra Modi ji that the next wave of startups and entrepreneurs must come from Shillong, Kohima and other parts of the North East India”, said the minister while interacting with journalists at a press conference in Shillong.
The Union Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has recently circulated Draft amendments to the IT Rules 2021 in relation to the Online Gaming for public consultation.
The minister also highlighted the importance of Digital Skills post Covid, as the rate of digitalization of products, services and devices continue to increase across the globe. “Imparting Digital Skills to the youth in North East Region to enable them to grab opportunities of jobs and entrepreneurship in the fast-expanding digital economy is an article of faith for Shri Narendra Modi Government.” the minister said.
He announced another initiative to set up a state-of-the-art facility under the National Institute of Electronics and IT (NIELIT) to provide training on cutting edge Digital Skills at Shillong. A 10-acre campus shall soon be ready for this purpose which shall cater to the skilling requirement of youth in the North East region, he said.
The minister also informed that the government is re-launching Skill India through PMKVY 4.0, which will train around 50,000 youth in Meghalaya in future ready skills with Industry backed job opportunities. “PM Narendra Modi is building New India with re-imagined ambitions and aspirations for the young Indians. There are multiple opportunities available today and therefore skills become important to take advantage of these opportunities. Skills are the new Passport to Prosperity”, he added. As far as other states in the North East Region are concerned; the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship under PMKVY4.0 has set a target to skill around 60,000 youth in Tripura and 35,000 in Nagaland across a spectrum of approved courses.
The minister was on a two-day official visit to Meghalaya.
