New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 25th National Youth Festival on January 12 in Puducherry, via video conferencing, a statement said on Monday.
On the occasion, the PM will unveil selected essays on “Mere Sapno ka Bharat” and “Unsung Heroes of Indian Freedom Movement” which were selected from submissions by over 1 lakh youth on the two themes, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
“The PM will also inaugurate a Technology Centre of the MSME Ministry, established in Puducherry with an investment of about Rs 122 crore. With focus on the Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector, this centre will be equipped with the latest technology. It will contribute towards skilling youth and will be able to train around 6,400 trainees per year,” it said.
He will also inaugurate the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Manimandapam – an auditorium with open air theatre, built by the Puducherry government at a cost of around Rs 23 crore. It would primarily be used for educational purposes, and can accommodate more than 1,000 people.
The National Youth Festival aims to shape the minds of India’s youth and transform them into a united force for nation building. It is one of the biggest exercises in social cohesion and intellectual and cultural integration. It aims to bring diverse cultures of India and integrate them into a united thread of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’.
In view of the emerging Covid situation, the Festival is scheduled to be held virtually from January 12 -13. The inauguration will be followed by the ‘National Youth Summit’ wherein there will be panel discussions on four identified themes.
In line with the youth-led development and motivating youngsters to solve the emerging issues and challenges, the themes will include environment, climate and SDG led growth, tech, entrepreneurship and innovation, indigenous and ancient wisdom, and national character, nation building and home grown, the PMO said.
Recorded video capsules of Puducherry, Auroville, Immersive City Experience, indigenous sport games and folk dances etc will be shown to the participants during the Festival. There will also be open discussions with Olympians and Paralympians followed by live performance in the evening. Virtual Yoga session will be organised in the morning, it added.
On January 12 every year, National Youth Day is observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda