Addressing the closing ceremony of the Viksit Bharat Youth Leadership Dialogue and Drug-Free India Campaign at Sardar Patel University, Mandi, in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, he said that youth were central to fulfilling the national resolve of Viksit Bharat.
Photo: SNS
Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla called upon young people to channel their energy, creativity, and leadership towards building a developed India by 2047. He said that the curiosity, innovation, and determination of India’s youth would play a decisive role in transforming the country into a developed nation within the next two decades.
Addressing the closing ceremony of the Viksit Bharat Youth Leadership Dialogue and Drug-Free India Campaign at Sardar Patel University, Mandi, in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, he said that youth were central to fulfilling the national resolve of Viksit Bharat.
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He urged students to view education not merely as a means to achieving a career but as a tool for social change, service to the nation, and the pursuit of new ideas.
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The Governor encouraged them to cultivate leadership qualities along with discipline, noting that these attributes were essential for nation-building.
Referring to India’s economic rise, he said the country had emerged as the world’s fourth-largest economy and was poised to surpass Germany next year to become the third-largest.
He added that India’s expanding start-up ecosystem, digital advancements, progress in space research, and massive infrastructure development were all driven by the energy and aspirations of young Indians.
Emphasising the urgent need to eradicate drug abuse, the Governor said that narcotics destroy individuals, families, and societies and hinder national development. He cautioned that there were deliberate attempts to lure youth into synthetic drugs and called for a collective societal response to stop this menace.
A strong, developed, and drug-free India, he said, was possible only when young people remained aware, disciplined, and committed to positive pursuits.
He urged students to believe in themselves, channel their energy constructively, stay away from drugs, and help their peers do the same.
Governor Shukla underlined the importance of zero tolerance towards drugs and said awareness, open conversation, family involvement, and institutional responsibility were key to protecting young people from harmful habits.
He appealed to students to participate in sports, yoga, music, art, and other constructive activities.
Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said he had launched the Drug-Free Himachal campaign, which began in higher educational institutions and has now reached the panchayat level.
He also appreciated the state government’s consistent efforts in combating the drug menace and urged Vice-Chancellor Professor Lalit Kumar Awasthi to prioritise sports and yoga on campus.
The Governor commended Sardar Patel University for emerging as a vibrant centre of knowledge, research and national consciousness.
He inaugurated a blood donation camp on the university premises, visited a painting exhibition, and released a photo book depicting Sardar Patel’s inspirational journey. He also honoured the winners of story writing, speech, painting, and poetry competitions held under the Viksit Bharat and Drug-Free India initiatives.
Congratulating the participants, he said the determination and talent of today’s youth would shape the direction of a developed India.
Earlier, Vice-Chancellor Awasthi highlighted the university’s achievements and upcoming plans while outlining the objectives of the youth dialogue and anti-drug campaign.
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