MoS Raksha Nikhil Khadse calls upon youth officers to become catalysts of nation-building

The fourth Regional Chintan Shivir of the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, concluded today at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Lucknow, bringing to a close the nationwide series of regional consultations held under the theme “विकसित युवा बनाएगा विकसित भारत (Viksit Yuva for Viksit Bharat).” Centred on “Samadhaan Se Sankalp”, the second day focused on converting the ideas and recommendations emerging from the previous day’s deliberations into actionable strategies for strengthening youth-centric governance and grassroots implementation

Addressing the session, Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Union Minister of State of Youth Affairs & Sports,  said youth officers have a pivotal responsibility in shaping the future of the nation by inspiring young people to actively participate in nation-building. “Because you work on the ground, you understand challenges better, ask the right questions and find practical solutions. That commitment was clearly reflected in every presentation,” she observed.

Appreciating the dedication of field functionaries, she said the presentations on MY Bharat, Experiential Learning Programme (ELP), Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) and Fit India reflected their grassroots commitment and practical understanding of local challenges. “This is not merely a duty; it is a responsibility. Along with building careers, our youth must also think about taking the country forward. They will write the future of India, and each one of you has the opportunity to become a hero for the youth,” she said.

Appreciating the presentations made during the Chintan Shivir, the Minister of State said they reflected the dedication and hard work of officers working at the grassroots. She noted that initiatives such as MY Bharat, Experiential Learning Programme (ELP), Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) and Fit India had demonstrated how effective implementation at the field level leads to better policy outcomes.

Shri Shiv Ratan,  Joint Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs,  said the growing interest of various Ministries in partnering with MY Bharat reflects the platform’s emergence as a key vehicle for youth engagement and nation-building. He urged officers to deepen collaboration with State Governments, educational institutions and local stakeholders, noting that stronger partnerships would further strengthen the Department’s outreach and impact. “Every State has its own challenges and every challenge requires a State-specific solution. Our focus should be on strengthening the organisation at the grassroots by developing local solutions to local problems while remaining aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat.” he said.

Addressing the officials , Dr. Priyanka Shukla, CEO, MY Bharat, appreciated the active participation of officers throughout the Chintan Shivir and encouraged them to adopt innovative approaches to youth engagement. She emphasised that the success of MY Bharat lies in empowering young people through meaningful opportunities for volunteerism, leadership and community participation, while ensuring that best practices from across States are effectively documented and scaled.

The second day commenced with technical sessions on the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) and Fit India deriving collaborative efforts across departments. A major highlight of the concluding day was the presentation of thematic action plans and case studies developed by the working groups on priority areas of the Department. The groups presented recommendations on Nasha Mukt Bharat, Fit India, Gender Sensitisation, Youth Leadership and Volunteerism, Experiential Learning Programmes, community mobilisation, and institutional strengthening of MY Bharat and MY Bharat NSS.

The key takeaway from the two-day Chintan Shivir was the Department’s collective resolve to further strengthen MY Bharat as a platform for youth-led nation-building through greater grassroots outreach, institutional convergence and collaborative governance. The deliberations underscored the importance of deeper community engagement, behavioural change communication, stronger partnerships with educational institutions and local stakeholders, technology-enabled programme delivery, and continuous capacity building of field functionaries.  Officials also emphasised the need for State-specific implementation strategies, regular sharing of best practices, and sustained dialogue between the Ministry and field officers to ensure more effective execution of flagship initiatives.

During the valedictory session, Uttar Pradesh was recognised as the best-performing State in terms of the highest number of MY Bharat registrations, while the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu was acknowledged for achieving the highest registration percentage relative to its youth population, reflecting exemplary grassroots mobilisation and outreach.The recommendations emerging from the Chintan Shivir will guide future programme implementation and reinforce the Department of Youth Affairs’ commitment to creating Viksit Yuva as the foundation of Viksit Bharat @2047.