With a vision to encourage youth’s participation in the development and progress of the state, Department of Sports & Youth Services, Government of Punjab is organizing a two day “Punjab State Youth Festival-2019” at the campus of Chandigarh University, Gharuan on 23rd – 24th December 2019. The Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs and NRI Affairs, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi announced this during a press conference here today.While giving the details about the State level Youth Festival, Minister said that the Government wants to convey the message of Naari Da Sanman (Educating Youth to Respect Women) - Nashiya da Tyaag (Give-up Drugs) – Aao Sirjiye Nawa Punjab (Let’s participate in building New Punjab) to the youth of Punjab so that their energies can be channelized towards the prosperity of the state. “Youth of Punjab would be apprised about the innovative advancements in the field of Science & Technology, opportunities in the field of entrepreneurship, careers in emerging areas of Industry, international career & study options and careers in Indian Armed Forces” added Rana Sodhi. While interacting with the media-persons, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi said that Youth from different parts of Punjab would also be taking part in the this event in the different categories of art & craft, cultural, literary and designing competitions which is an attempt by the government to provide a platform to the budding talent of the state.
The Minister also announced that the government of Punjab would be honoring the youth with “Punjab Youth Icon Awards & Punjab Youth Achievers Award 2019” who have excelled in the field of Sports, Science & Technology, Civil & Administrative Services, Defense Services, Entrepreneurship, Cinema & Music, Culture & Literature and brought laurels for the Punjabi community and who have become role model for the next generation. “A career summit will be organized as a part of Punjab State Youth Festival in which the youth would be apprised about the career opportunities in the emerging fields and plenary sessions would be organized by the experts from Industry, Civil Services, Defense Services, Representatives of Foreign Embassies and delegates from International Universities who will guide them with the career path to be successful in the respective domains” the Minister said., Responding to media`s questions Cabinet Minister said that more than 300 coaches are being recruited soon in the sports department.In addition, there would be a Punjab Innovation Expo-2019 in which students from different universities and colleges of Punjab would be displaying their innovative products, patented products, start-up business models by the young entrepreneurs from different parts of Punjab in the Start-up and Innovation Exhibition during the State Youth Festival. An exhibition VIRSA showcasing the rich & vibrant Punjabi Culture & Values would be organized.
Live-concerts by Punjabi singers Ranjit Bawa, Amy Virk, Singa, Ninja and others would be performing live along with actors from Punjabi Film Industry during the Punjab State Youth Festival.While interacting with the media, Additional Chief Secretary, Sanjay Kumar said that for the Punjab Youth Achievers Award 2019, an online self-nomination process has been developed by the department where the youth from Punjab can apply to nominate themselves for the 13 categories of the awards that would be given by the Punjab Government during the state level youth festival.The chancellor of the Chandigarh University Satnam Singh Sandhu said that they are full supporting the great imitative of the Punjab Government and Chandigarh University has made elaborate arrangements for the stay and transport of the youth travelling from different parts of Punjab to participate in the State level Youth Festival being organized by the Government.Director Youth Services Mr. Sanjay Popli, Vice-Chancellor Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Sports University, Patiala, Lt. General (Retired) J. S. Cheema, Chairman Youth Development Board Mr. Sukhwinder Singh Bindra and Vice Chairman Mr. Vikram Kamboj, Rashpal Singh Dhaliwal, President, CGC and other dignitaries including were also present on this occasion.