Young girls show products at a handicrafts kiosk at the youth convention in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 31: Youths from across the state today took part in the state-level youth convention organised by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan where they were sensitised to enhance their capacities and become active partners in the nation-building process.

Discussions were held where about 800 youth representatives from various regions talked about the issues and problems confronting them.

Rita Bhagat, the zonal director of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Odisha, said the programme aimed at involving rural youth in nation-building activities.

“The objective is to develop skills and values in them with which they become responsible and productive citizens of the nation. The Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan has been working in various fronts of youth development with a variety of youth programmes of the Union ministry of youth affairs and certain special programmes in co-ordination and co-operation of other ministries. The main focus has been on developing values of good citizenship, thinking and behaving in secular ways, skill development and helping youth to adopt a productive and organised behaviour,” said Bhagat.

The Sixth National Tribal Youth Exchange Programme, organised by the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, was also inaugurated on the occasion. About 250 tribal youths took part in the programme.

“The youths are mostly drawn from the Maoist-dominated regions of the state. The programme aims to provide them with an exposure to the outside world and make them understand the culture, language and lifestyle of various places,” said the official.

Participants said that the programme helped them develop an emotional bond with their peer groups and provide an opportunity for interaction with other youths.

Several important topics, such as “tribal issues and development of youths”, “employment generation for tribals” and “opportunities and other problems in the tribal areas” were discussed.

“We hope the meet solves the purpose of exposing these youth to developmental activities. The weeklong camp’s activities will include workshops, training programmes, personality development programmes, field visits, interaction with eminent personalities and visiting tribal settlements and tourists spots here,” said another official of the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan.