Mangalore: Grand End to 17th National Youth Festival, CM Congratulates City
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Jan 16: Curtains came down on the five-day long 17th National Youth Festival on Monday with the Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda laying emphasis on the urgent need to infuse young blood and vigor at the all levels of administration.
Addressing the august gathering at Mangala Stadium, the venue of valedictory ceremony of 17th National Youth Festival, Gowda first spoke in Tulu, congratulating the citizens of Mangalore for hosting such a grand event successfully.
"This proves that we are capable of hosting international events too," he added. He congratulated the organisers for coordinating well and making all arrangements like food, accomodation, etc for the delegates and participants and arrangements for the public.
He said that his government was committed to provide platforms for youth to discover their roots, strengths and talents, and become confident, develop self-worth to lead society.
He said, “My government is committed to enable the latent potential of youth power in its entirety to work towards nation building activities. We are seeing a surge in the population of youth in Asia and India. Our work towards enabling the youth of this nation has hitherto not been given the importance it deserves”.
He said that his government had so far been generous in budgetary allocation for developing infrastructure under the Department of Youth Services and Sports. He also said that his government would take a lead from this youth festival and would revamp the schemes and introduce new programs through the Department of Youth Services and Sports in the larger interest of youth.
He said the Youth Rally will be modeled more on the lines of the youth festival and also would broad-base it by introducing new competitions and events, inspiring fresh talent.
The training programs in life skills development will be strengthened and the scope will be expanded to imbibe the teachings of Swami Vivekananda.
He also declared that the Youth Week would be celebrated in a more meaningful way in days to come. “Steps will be taken to connect the ideals of Swami Vivekananda with the values our youth and our people require for everyday life,” he said.
He also entreated the mayor of Mangalore Praveen to recommend a road and a circle in Mangalore which can be named after Swami Vivekananda.
He said that the unprecedented success of 17th National Youth Festival has conveyed a strong message, not only in terms of participation but also the viewership it generated over the past five days.
He said the this Festival has uncovered and highlighted the significance of Youth Services and Sports department in bringing the youth from various backgrounds into the mainstream and giving them an opportunity to realize each individual’s contribution in nation building.
Union sports secretary Sindhudhree Khullar pointed out that it was the first time that the Indian Navy had participated in National Youth Festival.
Rajendra, minister of medical and technical education, Jammu and Kashmir, said that the youth festival strengthened the secular spirit of the nation, especially among the youth.
Winners of various competitive events held during the course of the festival were announced and prizes were handed over by the CM.
Earlier, the closing ceremony began with cultural parades from the participating states. Shimoga artistes presented Dollu Kunita.
Chairman of legislative council D H Shankaramurthy, deputy speaker of legislative assembly N Yogish Bhat, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, district minister in charge Krishna J Palemar, zilla panchayat president Shailaja Bhat, mayor Praveen, former Olympian M P Ganesh and international athlete and Dhyanchand awardee Uday K Prabhu and others were present.