JAMMU: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and MoS PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh said that today’s India belongs to youth and those who are unable to accept this reality, are doing so at their own risk.
Addressing an interactive youth programme on theme “Role of youth and present socio-political scenario”, Dr Jitendra Singh said, for generations together, the thinkers and political pundits took the conventional line to state that tomorrow belongs to youth, but herein today, we are faced with a scenario where not tomorrow, but today itself has been taken over by youth.
To substantiate his point, he said, whereas at the time of independence in 1947, the population of India was around 44 crore, in India of 2016, the population below the age of 35-40 years is almost double to the extent of over 80 crore and every third person walking in the streets of India is a youngster. While India is the world’s biggest resource pool of youth force, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the challenge now is, how best to channelize it for the benefit of India without letting it go waste or under-utilised.
The recent decision to change the legal tender of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes is also motivated by a long term plan to make the youth of India an intrinsic part of the global economic management system, while at the same time, seeking to utilise the hoarded black money for benefit of enormous youth welfare schemes announced by the Modi Government, he added.
As for Jammu & Kashmir, Dr Jitendra Singh said, for the youth living in all the three regions of the State, there are certain issues which are of common concern. Citing a number of examples, he said, for instance, GST should be introduced into the State without any further delay and this would benefit the youth not only from Jammu region, but also from Kashmir and Ladakh.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, there is a huge youth energy waiting to be explored across the country, including in Jammu & Kashmir, and it is a challenge for all of us, more so for the elders, to ensure that this youth power is appropriately streamlined to achieve the objective of making India a “world power”.
MLA Rajesh Gupta, in his address, suggested that State Government should include chapters on Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Pt Prem Nath Dogra in school text – books.
Dr Virendra Koundal, National Executive Member of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) gave a detailed background of the role of youth in changing times in the history of India.
Ashwani Charungoo, President Panun Kashmir, congratulated the ABVP and the youth of the State for their commendable role in recent times.