This is a topic, which has lingered in my mind for a long time when I think of Manipur's economy, deficit state exchequer and its future. Many experts and economist have analyzed and spoken of complicated theory and hard to improvised ways for the growth of the state economy, which is hard to understand to a layman and doesn't suit to everyone. What I try to suggest here is how the student community studying outside the state can pragmatically do to help solve these problems upto some extent and see the much-needed revival of a new Manipur, which is strong in economy. This may be a cliche to many of you but "Students are the pillars of a nation" can be rightly discussed in case of our state and its economy.

The paradigm shift I talk of in my topic among fellow Manipur students is to seek for brighter avenues outside the state instead of fighting for a well paid, no need to work Govt. job way back in our home state. It has been an age-old discussion and encored again and again by our politician that we are striving for quality education in Manipur.But most of the student opt to go out from Manipur and continue their higher education outside the state. The reason for this may be blamed on the education system in Manipur where band and strikes disturbs the academic calendar and atmosphere and lack of infrastructure for undergoing professional courses. Parents and guardian's don't want to leave no stone unturned to give the best facility and education to their wards so they spend their hard earned money by sending their wards to study outside Manipur.Hats off to all the parents for their intellectual goal of providing best education to their children

Now think of the large number of Manipuri students studying outside the state and huge amount of money spend in the education of the students outside the state. Imagine how much money we could have saved if we had quality education in our state and how much good it would have done to the state exchequer. Here the reader may question me, What is the harm in spending money for our children's education? Agreed my friend there is no harm in spending money on education, it is good from any perspective. But everyone here should remember that we are not spending this money in our state we are going and spending in other states with no return in terms of monetary gain. Junta again may question me "Though we don't have monetary gain we gain in terms of knowledge". Right students gain in knowledge but what is the use when u come back to Manipur with a degree or master, laden with knowledge and don't get any job or don't see any avenue to put into use ur expertise or gained knowledge. This condition can be compared to a very sharp knife lying unused, the ultimate result being it getting rusted. Without crying over spilt milk lets address the issue and think of solving it atleast upto some extent. Now there lays the paradigm shift I was talking of among fellow Manipur students studying outside the state. Come out from the old thinking of studying here and getting back to Manipur to get a no work but well paid Govt. job. You have come here to gain knowledge, now think of utilizing your degrees, masters and knowledge to find a good job outside the state. This way you will be helping yourself; your family and your state by earning and returning back the idle money you have spent in your education here. This is a common practice in state like kerala and Punjab. Everyone might be aware of the number of keralite staying in gulf countries and Punjabi staying outside their state and helping their economy grow. This is a successful trend followed in this states, so we should start following it at the earliest

There is a positive sign of this shift taking place in many parts of India with Manipuri people working in many companies and industries located in different parts of India. Still the need to spread this awareness in a mass scale among the students community is the need of the hour. It is we students who should be zealous and take up the responsibility to build a new Manipur where our generations could tread as a proud sons and daughters of Manipur. So lets start doing whatever we can do within our limits to bring up our economy. As the adage says "Better late than never", all the students should try to adapt to the paradigm shift to help themselves and their dented Ema-leibak to turn it into a Sana-leibak.

A student who studied his professional course outside the state and is presently working in Chennai has concocted this article out of experience and love of his homeland. Similarly there will be many good ideas creeping up from many quarters from sheer experience which can't be explained by economist or experts but very valuable from the state's economic view. Those ideas should be shared among the mass to help the budding youngsters in understanding the state's economic status and feasible ways to achieve a good economy for the state.