Srinagar: Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said youth must be equal partners and not just beneficiaries in building Viksit Bharat 2047.
The minister was speaking at the three-day Chintan Shivir of ministers of Youth Affairs and Sports from states and Union Territories (UTs) that commenced at the SKICC here.
The Shivir is being led by Mandaviya, who is the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports; and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Nikhil Khadse.
The first day, themed “Samvaad Se Samadhaan”, focused on strengthening youth engagement frameworks through MY Bharat, with emphasis on policy alignment, institutional convergence and outcome-oriented programme delivery.
In his keynote address, Mandaviya highlighted the importance of inclusive and participatory governance.
“The vision of this Chintan Shivir is to ensure individual involvement by bringing every youth voice into the decision-making process,” he said.
He said India has the world’s most powerful demographic dividend, and to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, it is essential that youth are actively involved in shaping policies that will ultimately benefit them.
Underlining the need for collaborative nation-building, he said, “We must make youth equal partners in achieving the goals of 2047, not just beneficiaries of schemes.”
Proper nurturing of youth can be achieved through district youth officers (DYOs), who can effectively channelise ideas emerging from the grassroots, the minister added.
He said youth clubs can act as the foundation of youth engagement.
Calling for robust policy-making processes, Mandaviya emphasised that stakeholder consultation is essential for effective policy formulation and transparency must ensure that input directly translates into output without leakages.
Addressing the event, Khadse noted that the Chintan Shivir provides a platform for meaningful dialogue and action.
“This Chintan Shivir offers a platform for fruitful discussions to identify key issues and evolve actionable strategies for the youth of the country,” she said.
She emphasised participatory governance, saying, it is imperative that youth are actively involved in the decision-making process at every level.
Highlighting the importance of grassroots inputs, she added, “Discussions must flow from the ground level through DYOs to the national level, ensuring that policies reflect real needs and aspirations.”
