Governors have key role in channelising Youth for enhanced development: President

President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said youth force should be linked with the process of nation building and urged the Governors to work as a bridge between the Centre and the states and to put development at the core of Union and states’ agenda. Addressing the Conference of Governors and Lt Governors here, the President said the Governors' role has become all the more imperative in the context of stress on the cooperative federalism in recent years.

"People have high expectations from Raj Bhavans. People can get right inspiration if high standards and values are established vis-a-vis the functioning of Raj Bhavans," he said. Mr Kovind also said in the era of digital India, all services rendered to the people should be simple, transparent and also accountable. The President said that it is essential to link youth with the process of nation building. The future of the country depends on the capacities, moral values and compassion of the younger generation. Special attention needs to be paid to higher education and skill development at the level of states.

"This is particularly true given the challenges of automation and Artificial Intelligence," he said. The President pointed out that 69 per cent of Universities in the country fall under the purview of State Governments, and 94 per cent of all college and university students study in these institutions. The President said technology can propel the country to reach even difficult and long-term goals, and help ensure access to quality public services for all citizens. He also stressed trusting citizens more and gave the examples of self-attestation of documents by individuals and the easier mechanism for obtaining a passport.

He urged the replication of these ideas at the level of states, since much of citizen’s interaction with Government agencies is at the level of states. The President said that being an intrinsic part of the legislative system in their states, the Governors can provide a new dimension to the development of their states by communicating with legislators, and inviting them to Raj Bhavan to deliberate on subjects related to public well-being. "By establishing communication with University Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors, academicians, social workers and other thoughtful and enlightened citizens in the States, Governors can help raise the quality of discussion and debate and provide an impetus to society and the State government," he said.

Among others, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers also attended the inaugural session. The two-day Conference will deliberate on distinct agenda items in different sessions. The theme of the opening session was ‘New India-2022’. The first session of the Conference was addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi also.There was also a presentation by Dr Rajiv Kumar, Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, on the elements of ‘New India 2022’.

The second session is on the subjects of ‘Higher Education in States’ and ‘Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to Make Youth Employable’. In the third session, to take place on Friday, the Governors will make brief remarks on any special issues pertaining to their respective states and Union Territories, an official source said here.