Brief report on STINER-TFC

Science and Technology Intervention in North-Eastern Region (STINER) is an innovative initiative of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER). This initiative is a brain child of the then Joint Secy., MDoNER, Shri. S.N. Pradhan (IPS) and Smt. Mercy Epao, the then Director of MDoNER. The centre was inaugurated on 20th February, 2019 by Shri. Naveen Verma (IAS), the then Secretary, Ministry of DoNER. The main „HUB‟ is CSIR-NEIST, Jorhat and the first „SPOKE‟ has been established at SASRD, NU, Medziphema campus.

The Project head of STINER-TFC, SASRD, NU is Prof. Akali Sema, under whose initiative all the program are being organized. A total of three project assistants, one office assistant, one technical assistant, one mechanic and six multi-tasking staffs are actively involved in the project

The mandate of the Centre is to create entrepreneurial mindset among the local people in the entire State and help aspiring entrepreneurs to start up or scale up in their business through relevant technologies parked at the centre. The Hub and Spokes of STINER is set up as an incubation centre and to hand-hold farmers/artisans for training/experience with technologies displayed with an ultimate aim to double farmers‟ income.

During the first year ie 2018-2019, the Centre focused on bringing the best technologies available CSIR-NEIST Institute and various Institute of the country for the for holistic development of the region. In this regard some relevant technologies were identified and parked at the Centre and a hands-on trial on each technology was done to test their efficacy. Those technologies found to be efficient were further introduced to the farmers and interested entrepreneurs.

The second year of the project ie 2019-2020, mostly focused on conducting trainings around the State to create awareness on entrepreneurship among the students, unemployed youth, house wives and other entrepreneurship aspirants. A total of four skill development trainings, six online demonstration and webinars and ten awareness programmes across six schools and four districts were conducted.

The third year of the project i.e., 2020-2021, owing to the pandemic situation that hit the whole world, a total of five online activities, such as webinars and live demonstration conducted on entrepreneurship and skill development focusing on all categories of participants, including men, women and children. Four practical hands-on training programme on the various technologies parked at the centre was also conducted in small groups following all necessary protocols.

While, during the fourth year of the Project i.e., 2021-2022, the Centre conducted five skill development training programmes, seven hands-on training programmes on various technologies across the different districts. Two online webinars and four awareness programmes was also organized.

A total of 9 skill development training, 11 Hands-on training, 13 online webinars and demonstration and 14 awareness programmes have been conducted across the various districts of the state with a total of 826 participants attending the programme. The participants mainly comprised of students, housewives, SHGs, unemployed youths and aspiring young entrepreneurs.

The Centre has a view to focus on youth entrepreneurship through handholding program (YEP, EMPRETEC), to park relevant and long term technologies at the centre, to impart handson training in all district of Nagaland in collaboration with various departments/organizations and also working to extend incubation facilities to the start ups