GUWAHATI: The Youth 20 (Y20) Inception Meeting 2023 under G20 began in Guwahati on Monday.
Briefing the media ahead of the meeting, Meeta Rajivlochan, Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs, informed that Youth20 deliberations hope to reach out to youth and consult with them for their ideas for a better tomorrow.
Meeta Rajivlochan highlighted the Five themes of Y20 that will be discussed in the three-day event.
These themes are-
- Future of Work: Industry 4.0, Innovation and 21st century
- Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability as a Way of Life
- Peace Building and Reconciliation: Ushering in an Era of No War
- Shared Future: Youth in Democracy and Governance
- Health, Wellbeing & Sports: Agenda for Youth
"Each theme resonates with people in different parts of the country and each region has their own visions on these themes and that is the reason for spreading out the consultation across the country," she said.
She also informed that Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, will hold a 'Youth dialogue' with Y20 delegates followed by the launch of a white paper on various themes on February 8.
Talking about the panel discussions to be held in IIT Guwahati on Tuesday, she said that noted speakers would discuss peace-building and Reconciliation.
"This will be a relevant theme for the people of the northeast as the place has a history of insurgency," she added.
Meena Rajivlocjhan further informed that two surrendered insurgents of ULFA and NDFB will also participate in the panel discussion.
Kalyan Chakravarthy, Principal Secretary, Assam, informed that the State government, along with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, had taken up several initiatives to make the youth aware of Y20 and involve them in the process of nation-building.
He said that around 36 educational institutes of Assam participated in the seminars, debates, workshops, and quiz competitions organised on the five themes of Y20. He further informed that around 4000 schools participated in the Y20 activities.
IIT Director Prof Parameswar K Iyer said it is a matter of pride that IIT Guwahati is hosting the Technical sessions and deliberations of the Y20 events.
He asserted that IIT Guwahati is a major research centre for frontier technologies like the production of green hydrogen; some of these technologies are in the process of transfer to industry.
He further informed that key panel discussions on the future of work, twenty-first-century skills, climate change, making sustainability a way of life, peace-building, and Reconciliation would be held at IIT Guwahati.
Talking about the Y20 awareness activities held in various parts of the state, B Narayanan, Director General, NE Zone, Ministry of I & B, informed that PIB Guwahati, in association with the state Education Department, trained around 50 students across Assam on reporting, documentation and mobile photography.
Seeing the students' efforts, Narayanan informed that out of those 50 students trained, 9 students have been listed for felicitation by Press Information Bureau for their outstanding performance.
Started in 2012, the Y20 is the youth version of the G20 Summits. It is the only officially recognised platform for young people to engage with the G20; it is one of the most influential international diplomatic forums for young leaders.
It is also one of eight official engagement groups under the G-20 umbrella.
This is the first meeting of the 17 meetings, which will be held all across the country, culminating in the Youth20 Summit in August.
