Time to devise broad youth policy: Sidhu

CHANNELISING YOUTH ENERGY Says they have great potential, only comprehensive policy can give them direction

BATALA:Punjab local bodies, tourism and cultural affairs minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, while addressing educationists and students at the local VMS College here, said that the youth of Punjab have a great potential and now the time is right to have a comprehensive policy for giving direction to youth energy.

Sidhu said that the Akalis in the past 10 years have left the youth like a rudderless ship.

He revealed that due to low quality skill developmental initiatives in the state, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley’s proposal of inviting 4,000 skilled carpenters to her state fell flat and later the then chief minister Parkash Singh Badal told her that Punjab does not have skilled professionals.

“Today majority of the population is young and we need to formulate a strong policy as per their needs to make them self-reliant. The fact is that 58 % population consists of youths and the state does not have a proper policy to channelise their energy and talent. So, now is the high time to provide a road map to the youth.”

Sidhu also said,“The policy must provide for cheap loans for higher education, job opportunities, business options for youngsters and ensuring that youths are not stuck in ‘sarkari’ wrangles if they want a start-up.”

He said that they see long queues outside IELTS centres that indicate the youths just want to go abroad and this needed to be changed by creating ample opportunities for them in Punjab.

For that, there is need to set up maximum skill development centres, courses to make them selfsustained and rope in best job opportunities.

Today, countries like the US, the UK are spending more on youth policies and their education. Why can’t we replicate the same and ensure that no brain drain takes place and the state’s talent serves the state as well as the nation, he added.

The US, the UK and some other developed nations spend 7 to 8 % of their GDP on education, India spends around 3.5 % and Punjab has no concrete figures, he added.

Sidhu also announced a grant of ₹20 lakh for the college.

The policy must provide for cheap loans for higher education, job opportunities, business options for youngsters and ensuring that youths are not stuck in ‘sarkari’ wrangles if they want a startup.

NAVJOT SINGH SIDHU, local bodies minister