R.S. Bali interacts with youth at ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’; employment, democratic values and social participation discussed
TNR News Network
Dharamshala
Youth are a vital force in the development of the country and the state and have an important role to play in strengthening democracy, said Nagrota MLA and Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC), R.S. Bali.
Bali was addressing the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme organised at the auditorium of Government College Dharamshala, where he interacted with students and young people on issues concerning employment, democratic values and social participation.
Recalling the life and struggle of Mahatma Gandhi, Bali said Gandhi connected directly with ordinary people, mobilised them and transformed the freedom struggle into a mass movement. He said the active participation of young people in public life and democratic processes remains equally important today.
Referring to employment initiatives, Bali said that during the tenure of the government led by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, programmes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) were introduced to provide employment opportunities in rural areas. He said MGNREGA, named after Mahatma Gandhi, was an important initiative aimed at providing a legal guarantee of employment to people in rural areas.
On the issue of employment for young people in Himachal Pradesh, Bali said he remained committed to making sustained efforts to ensure that no youth in the state has to remain unemployed. He urged young people to remain aware of their rights and issues affecting their future and to raise their voices firmly on matters concerning them.
Referring to electoral promises made since 2014, including assurances relating to employment, bringing back black money from abroad and depositing money into the accounts of families, Bali said young people should critically assess the promises made by political parties and examine their implementation. He urged them to form their views on the basis of facts and their own assessment.
Bali said public participation was the cornerstone of democracy and called upon young people to come forward and play an active role in strengthening democratic institutions and processes. He urged them to unite and raise their voice on issues concerning the public interest.
Thanking Youth Congress workers and the young people attending the programme, Bali said the strength of any organisation lies in its workers. Their hard work and active participation, he added, are what strengthen an organisation at the grassroots level.
Encouraging the students and young workers present, Bali urged them to continue moving towards their goals with determination and to play a constructive role in the development of society and Himachal Pradesh.
Rajya Sabha MP Anurag Sharma and Indian Youth Congress National President Uday Bhanu Chib also interacted with the youth during the programme. Former Dharamshala Mayor Devendra Jaggi, along with office-bearers and workers of the Youth Congress, were also present.
A large number of students and young people, besides Youth Congress office-bearers and workers, attended the programme.
