On National Youth Day, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami honored women and youth groups in Dehradun, paid tribute to Swami Vivekananda, and highlighted youth empowerment, startups, and self-reliance initiatives.
DEHRADUN: On the occasion of National Youth Day, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday honored outstanding women’s and youth welfare groups for their exemplary contributions across various fields. The award ceremony was held at the Parade Ground, Dehradun, where several groups were recognized and felicitated with cash prizes.
Under the Mahila Mangal Dal (Women’s Welfare Group) category, the Mahila Mangal Dal of Dhapla village in Nainital district secured the first prize and received a cash award of ₹1 lakh. The second prize, along with ₹50,000, was awarded to the Mahila Mangal Dal of Sema village, Chamoli, while the third prize of ₹25,000 went to the Mahila Mangal Dal of Banali village, Tehri Garhwal.
Similarly, in the Yuva Mangal Dal (Youth Welfare Group) category, the Yuva Mangal Dal of Mokh Malla, Chamoli, won the first prize and a cash award of ₹1 lakh. The second prize of ₹50,000 was presented to the Yuva Mangal Dal of Sundarpur Raikwal, Nainital, while the third prize of ₹25,000 was awarded to the Yuva Mangal Dal of Chaudirai village, Champawat.
In addition, winners of the speech competition and NSS (National Service Scheme) award-winning youth were also honored for their achievements and social contributions. On this occasion, the NSS handed over a cheque of ₹2,24,320 to the Chief Minister for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Paying tribute to Swami Vivekananda, Chief Minister Dhami described him as a visionary sage who rekindled the spirit of cultural nationalism in a nation bound by colonial subjugation. He said that Swami Vivekananda’s historic address at the Chicago Parliament of Religions introduced the world to India’s spiritual strength and conveyed the universal message that the welfare of humanity lies in the knowledge, wisdom, and values of Sanatan Dharma.
The Chief Minister emphasized that Swami Vivekananda had immense faith in the power of youth and regarded them as the most potent force for national resurgence. He stated that no nation can progress economically, socially, politically, or culturally unless its youth are organized, self-reliant, and inspired by nationalism.
Highlighting the importance of youth power, CM Dhami said that the energy, talent, and determination of India’s youth are the country’s greatest assets and hold the potential to fulfill the vision of a strong, prosperous, and self-reliant India. With proper guidance and direction, this youth power can not only transform India into an economic superpower but also restore its position as a global leader.
The Chief Minister further noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is continuously working toward the goal of a developed and self-reliant India through initiatives such as Startup India, Skill India, Digital India, Make in India, Fit India, and the New Education Policy. These schemes are providing youth with opportunities aligned with their skills and capabilities.
He said that the Uttarakhand government is fully committed to empowering youth and making them self-reliant. Efforts are being made to promote a startup culture through the state’s new startup policy. Schemes such as the Chief Minister’s Self-Employment Scheme, Chief Minister’s Youth Promotion Scheme, Chief Minister’s Skill Development Scheme, and the Deendayal Upadhyaya Rural Skill Development Scheme are providing training, technical support, and financial assistance to young people.
Addressing the changing employment scenario, CM Dhami stated that rapid technological advancements and global changes are reshaping the job market, creating new opportunities while rendering some traditional roles obsolete. Therefore, he emphasized the need to prepare youth for future challenges.
He also highlighted that Devbhoomi Uttarakhand has been a sacred land of Sanatan culture, philosophy, consciousness, and spirituality, where Swami Vivekananda attained spiritual enlightenment through penance at various locations. The government has identified these sites and decided to develop a Swami Vivekananda Corridor in the state.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare Rekha Arya said that Swami Vivekananda was a man of exceptional and multifaceted talent who established the supremacy of Sanatan values and Indian culture on the global मंच. She said his teachings and nationalist spirit will continue to inspire generations. She added that under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state is making continuous progress across all sectors to realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India by 2047.
MLA Khajan Das, Special Principal Secretary (Sports) Amit Sinha, and Director of Sports Dr. Ashish Chauhan were also present at the event.
