Imphal: Sixteen youths from Manipur will travel to Japan for overseas skill training and employment under the State Livelihood Empowerment and Entrepreneurship (SLEE) initiative, Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh said on Friday.
CM urges trainees to retain cultural identity
Addressing the selected candidates ahead of their departure, the Chief Minister advised them to remain connected to their roots and to carry their Manipuri identity with pride while living and working abroad. He noted that the participants will be exposed to a different culture, traditions and levels of development during their stay in Japan, but emphasised that their cultural identity should not be forgotten.
Singh also observed that, historically, people from Manipur openly identified themselves as Manipuris, but he felt that many today appear hesitant to do so and called for a change in that mindset.
Training, placements and financial support
The 16 candidates have completed Japanese-language instruction at the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) International Academy and have secured employment in various locations in Japan, including Tokyo and Okinawa. Placements cover roles in the healthcare and hospitality sectors.
To facilitate the programme, an MoU was executed between the State Bank of India (SBI) and SLEE — an undertaking of the Government of Manipur — to provide financial support to the selected candidates. The Chief Minister commended SLEE and SBI officials for arranging skill training, financial facilitation and overseas job placements.
"I will never forget my roots and will always be a proud Manipuri," said one of the selected youths, Dhanapriya Tensubam, who has obtained employment at Miyakojima Tokyu Hotel and Resort in Okinawa.
What the programme covers
Officials said the SLEE initiative aims to develop employable skills and link trained candidates with overseas opportunities. The immediate benefits to the selected participants include language training, sector-specific skill development, job placement in Japan and financial arrangements through the SBI–SLEE pact.
- Number of trainees: 16
- Training provider: NSDC International Academy (Japanese language)
- Employing countries/locations: Japan (Tokyo, Okinawa and other parts)
- Sectors: Healthcare and hospitality
- Financial facilitator: State Bank of India (MoU with SLEE)
Local impact and broader context
The placements signal a practical route for manpower mobility from Manipur to international job markets, particularly in East Asia where demand exists in caregiving and hospitality roles. For the youths selected, overseas employment can mean exposure to new work practices, higher earnings potential and remittance opportunities that may support families locally.
At the same time, the Chief Minister's remarks about preserving cultural identity reflect an emphasis on social and cultural continuity even as young people move abroad for work. The state government is positioning SLEE as both an economic intervention and a platform to showcase Manipuri talent internationally.
Practical information for prospective applicants
While the statement did not detail wider eligibility criteria or timelines for subsequent batches, prospective candidates and their families seeking similar opportunities should note the components evident in this cohort: language training under NSDC, sectoral skill training, and formal financial facilitation via a bank partnership. Interested youth are likely to benefit from monitoring official SLEE announcements for application windows, eligibility norms and any preparatory training schedules.
The state government and SLEE were appreciated by the Chief Minister for helping eligible youths secure jobs abroad, a development officials said could be scaled up depending on outcomes and demand from international employers.
There was no additional information in the official statement on stipend levels, contract durations, visa categories or the precise financial terms of the MoU with SBI. Those details, which are important for prospective participants, were not included in the announcement.
The departures and placements reflect a growing emphasis on overseas skill mobility from the region, combining language training, placement support and bank facilitation to open pathways for employment outside India.
