Najma stresses on empowering youth
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, September 13 2019: The 3rd State Level Youth Convention 2019 cum Cultural Meet organized by Service Bridge Agency, was held at the Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan, today under the theme 'Be the voice of New India'.

Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Governor Dr Najma Heptulla said that Manipur is a beautiful State with different indigenous tribes living in peaceful coexistence and unique hospitality.

Hence, it is significant and appropriate that the Youth Convention is organized with an objective of empowering youth, to encourage the young people and giving them information, guidance or resources they need in order to take charge of their own lives, she said adding that this convention will take concrete decisions for the socioeconomic development for the State.

Najma stresses on empowering youth

The Governor also reminded the gathering that at the turn of the century, morales among the youth started crumbling which affected personal life as well as the society.

The signs of development were seen everywhere in the pursuit of healthcare, infrastructure science, education, energy and agriculture.

As people and society prospered and as materialism took centre-stage, the values and morals came under severe onslaught of consumerism and globalization, she said.

She stated that India is considered the youngest Nation with the world's maximum number of youth, about 34 percent of the total population of the country.

This 34 percent is enormous human resources and the country's future.

"If we can harness this powerhouse in the right direction, then the country can reach the lofty heights.

Youth today is a major resource for not only development of financial prosperity but for social changes as well.

However, despite holding such importance, their energy is still not being channelized in the right direction," the Governor lamented.

She appreciated the organizer of the 3rd State Level Youth Convention for doing a commendable job in uniting the youth of different parts of the State on a single platform.

Such convention should also be organized in different parts of the State, spreading the right message and infusing the right spirit, the spirit of love, peace, compassion, hard work and commitment in youth and their pivotal role in socioeconomic development of the State.

Youth empowerment can catalyse major social developments like poverty eradication, good education standard, good governance and crime reduction which will reduce the rate of poverty to a significant level.

Similarly, empowered youth can understand the importance of education that leads to social improvement of the country by rejecting the status quo and pave the path for better governance, Dr Najma Heptulla said.

She further mentioned about the ill effects of drug addiction among the youth and the impact of drug use in communities and the sheer desperation of parents to rescue their children from drug menace.

Unfortunately, the State is substantially affected by drug trafficking and its concomitant issues.

Due to unemployment and poverty, Ganja and poppy are widely cultivated, she added.

Expressing grave concern over the scale of drug menace in the State, the Governor said that she had taken an initiative for the State Government to co-host a 2-day Regional International Conference-cum-Meeting on the theme 'Comprehensive Approach to combating illicit trafficking of Afghan Opiates and Drug Situation in the North East' with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Regional Office for South Asia, at Raj Bhavan, on September 30 and October 1.Representatives from 6 South Asian countries and 7 States of the NE will congregate to hold brain storming deliberations on issues relating to drug trafficking and drug abuse.

She also encouraged the youth to stand up against the scourge of drug abuse, which is detrimental to the prospects of young generation.

The Governor expressed confidence that if the youth abstain from all these bad habits, they will be able to surely shoulder the important responsibility for socioeconomic development of the State and the country as a whole.

As a part of the convention, technical sessions and discussions were held during which Prof Dr RK Lenin, Dept of Psychiatry, RIMS Hospital, gave a speech on the topic "Internet Addiction & its impact on our Health", Dr Lucy Duidang, Jt Director (CST) Manipur State AIDS Control Society, gave a speech on the topic "Know your status and get Treated", Prof MC Arun, Manipur University, gave a speech on the topic "Drug Problems and Need of a State Drug Policy" and Dr Ibomcha, SP, Thoubal Police, gave a speech on the topic "Cyber Crime and uses of Mobile Phone".

Karam Shyam, Minister of PDS & Consumer Affairs, Weight & Measures, Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation attended the convention as the president.

A large number of students from different schools also attended the event.