Jammu: Lack of resources and avenues to engage youth in meaningful ways will always drive youth towards the miscreants in this society.
In absence of healthy sources of entertainment and competitive sports, they’re inevitably going to be on the streets, either as a mob or harmlessly wasting away their lives. “The government has to devise a policy about how to channelize this youth bulge constructively. Policing youth is not the answer,” said former Minister and senior Congress leader while addressing party workers in Gandhi Nagar constituency.
Expressing disappointment over handling of youth in state, Bhalla said that enthusiasm among today’s youth is eloping somewhere leading to frustration and lack of zeal. The prime reason is unemployment, lack of job skills and skill based job etc. Our youth have fundamental right for better education, employment driven training and brighter future.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla said that Good governance means securing justice, empowerment, employment and efficient delivery of services. He strongly advocated that economic empowerment of women and livelihood programmes based on local resources and upgraded skills is need of hour. The need is to formulate a national strategy that accords primacy to the Gandhian principle of ‘antodaya’ without sacrificing growth and by making instruments of State accountable for good governance.
Asking the youth to play their positive role, Bhalla said that religion and culture play an important role in social cohesion. The religious attitude of tolerance and peace and cultural values of pluralism are conducive to good governance.
Urging the Govt to create opportunities to keep youth engaged in positive way and also to chanalize their energy and efficiency in nation building, Bhalla said that livelihood should relate to social economy and local resources as well.
It is through work that a person can plan the way in which his ambition can be fulfilled. With regular work life is no longer just about survival, but about investing in a better future for the children. Above all, when one has regular work, there is incentive to maintain a stable society. Youth have to speak out from the very beginning of their career and life that they won’t compromise and will adhere to ethical values, the Minister urged.
Commenting on NIT Srinagar issue, Bhalla stated that universities as autonomous institutions of academic excellence have a vital and delicate role to play in a modern democracy and are responsible for the nurture and well-being of a specific category of citizens – the students – who have chosen to pursue higher learning and everything else that comes with such a choice.