Lamka Urgently Needs a Placement-Oriented Training Institute

Lamka (Churachandpur), the cultural and educational heart of southern Manipur, stands at a critical crossroads. Despite having a vibrant youth population, strong social institutions, and a long tradition of adaptability and service, the town continues to suffer from one glaring gap: the absence of a professional, placement-oriented training institute capable of connecting local youth to well-established institutions and reputed hotels in India’s metro cities.

Every year, hundreds of young people from Lamka complete their schooling or higher secondary education with aspirations that extend far beyond the limited local job market. However, in the absence of structured skill-training ecosystems, many are left underemployed, unemployed, or forced to migrate informally without proper credentials, exposure, or job security. This is not due to a lack of talent, but a lack of opportunity and institutional support.

The hospitality and service sectors - hotels, tourism, healthcare support services, aviation ground staff, and institutional administration - are among the fastest-growing employers in metro cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. These sectors value discipline, communication skills, work ethic, and adaptability - qualities that Lamka’s youth naturally possess. What they lack is certified training, industry exposure, and formal placement channels.

A modern training institute in Lamka, focused on hospitality, institutional services, and skill-based professions, could be transformative. Such an institute should go beyond classroom instruction and prioritize:

• Industry - aligned curriculum tailored to real workplace needs
• Soft skills and language training, particularly in English and workplace communication
• Mandatory internships and on-the-job training with partner institutions
• Formal placement cells with MoUs signed with hotels, hospitals, and corporate service providers in metro cities

The benefits would be multidimensional. First, it would reduce distress migration by enabling safe, dignified, and informed mobility. Second, it would empower families economically through stable remittances. Third, it would position Lamka as a skill hub for southern Manipur, attracting students from neighboring districts and even across the Indo-Myanmar border region. Over time, this would stimulate local entrepreneurship, tourism, and service industries.

Importantly, such an institute need not be a government-only initiative. A public–private partnership model, involving church bodies, civil society organizations, educational trusts, and reputable national training providers, could ensure credibility and sustainability. What matters most is not the size of the campus, but the strength of its placement network and industry credibility.

In a region often discussed only in the context of conflict and displacement, investing in skill-based education is an act of long-term peacebuilding. Employment brings dignity, stability, and hope. For Lamka, a placement-oriented training institute is not a luxury - it is an urgent necessity.

If Lamka is to prepare its youth for the realities of a competitive, service-driven national economy, the time to act is now. Skills open doors, but placements change lives.

~ T. Zamlunmang Zou