Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 14

An online national webinar on the occasion of International Youth Day was organised by the Drama Club of GNDU and Equal Opportunity Partnership Cell for Persons with Disabilities, (EOC-PWD) in collaboration with the Punjab Youth Development Board, Government of Punjab. Drama in-charge of the club, university’s nodal officer for persons with disabilities and Associate Professor of Department of Hindi, Dr Sunil Kumar said the United Nations General Assembly had decided on December 17, 1999, that every year, August 12 will be marked as the International Youth Day.

The theme of this year’s International Youth Day is ‘Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health’.

Chief guest of the programme and Chairman, Punjab Youth Development Board, Sukhwinder Singh Bindra said the youth needed to adapt themselves to the changing environment and work in the right direction. The webinar had panelists Sonam Kalra, sufi singer and artist; art curator Minali Thakkar and Dr Sukhchain Singh gill, Commissioner of Police, Priyanka Goel, programme head of Phulkari Can Cancer Free Campaign and president of women’s chapter of CTI, Punjab.

Commissioner of Police, Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill said, “Youth are the engine of the society but channelising their energy is possible only if the foundation of the society is cultured since childhood. The International Youth Day is a day to awaken the infinite energy of youth.”

Sonam Kalra, famous Sufi singer and musician, said the youth of India are also a reason for the development of India. “Young people are still struggling for basic facilities as health, education and employment in many third world countries. To solve the problems of the nation, we need to be united and everyone needed to be seen on a equal footing.” Artist Minali N Thakkar said in the era of global epidemic like Covid, the role of youth has increased even more. “We saw many youngsters save thousands of lives by joining various social organisations. Social media relief campaigns were also run. That’s the power of the young brigade.”

Meanwhile, VC GNDU, Prof Jaspal Singh Sandhu, too highlighted several youth club activities undertaken by the GNDU and the university’s bid to expand its academic as well as infrastructure support towards inclusive education and engaging people with disabilities at the forefront of youth-based activities.