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Quality education, economy, civilization and environment- elements that contribute to a nation's growth: Aaditya Thackeray

Nov 20, 2020

NEW DELHI, 20 November 2020: Mr Aditya Thackeray, Cabinet Minister of Tourism, Environment, Protocol, Govt of Maharashtra, today said that quality education, economy, civilization and environment are the four main elements that contribute to the growth of the youth and thereby, the nation. 

 

Speaking at the valedictory session of the FICCI Global Young Leaders Summit- Youth Icons: Inspiring New Generations, Mr Thackeray said that when we speak about youth, one of the top-most priorities for us is the right to quality education and that the youth leaders must stress on it. "We need to realize if we are reaching the last person with quality education that will not only help him get a job but also create a job and live a sustainable life ahead," he said. 

 

Elaborating further, Mr Thackeray said that the onus is on youth leaders to balance development and economic growth with sustainable development. He also noted that the country needs to have local actions that have global impacts. 

 

Mr Thackeray opined that COVID has given us the biggest learning that we can have as humans. The Minister further added that it is imperative that we realize that we need to work together to save nature and the environment. "Let's save nature. We are not doing a favour by saving it. We are saving ourselves by saving nature," he said.  

 

Further, Mr Thackeray said, "Two themes - globalization and nationalism, have been perpetual in the long arc of human history. Another theme that has been perpetual and has been the driving force behind globalization and nationalism is youth. Youth leadership is about having a future goal in mind and working towards achieving it." 

 

Addressing the session, Mr Lyonpo Ugyen Dorji, Minister - Ministry of Labour and Human Resources, Royal Government of Bhutan, Kingdom of Bhutan said, "The philosophy of Gross National Happiness is a philosophy of sustainable development."  

 

Further, Mr Dorji said that against the COVID backdrop we have seen leaders, governments look for ideas, solutions and not only talk about newer visions but to also keep them afloat against challenges of a shrinking economy, job losses, disrupted supply chains and growing rates of inflation. "The leadership, energy, enthusiasm and the talent that the younger generation brings to the table really holds hope and potential to make a difference," he said. 

 

Stressing on the importance of India- Bhutan relations, Mr Dorji said, "For us, India is the world and we rarely look beyond India. There is a healthy exchange of ideas and a deliberate attempt to nurture the younger leadership. When India does well, Bhutan does well too."  

 

The Bhutanese minister also spoke of the challenges that cripple the nations. "One daunting challenge that we face despite all the energy and optimism is that of unemployment. We need to keep the morale of the youth high. The challenge for the governments in the region really must be able to solve the problem of unemployment and keep them preoccupied." 

 

Speaking at the event, Dr Sangita Reddy, President, FICCI said that the youth is the future of the nation. "You are our power, our elixir, and the ones who keep us motivated in everything that we do,' she said.  

 

"It is the youth of the world that ensures that the adults of the world do things in a more responsible manner. We are holding our positions for a short time and we are holding it to hand over to you," she said.  

 

Dr Reddy stressed the importance of making sure that the forthcoming generations don't face the travesties of the pandemic that cripples the world order at present. A lot of that, she said, is predisposed on our ability to do risk mitigation, our ability to think from a multilateral environment, inclusive and sustainable perspective so that we create a better world for our youth.  

 

As India opens up to the opportunities of the world, this is the time for us to use our power of AI, ML to imbibe and to create a more inclusive world, she said.  

 

Mr Shashwat Goenka, Chair - FICCI Young Leaders Forum and Sector Head - Retail & FMCG, RP - Sanjiv Goenka Group and Mr Dilip Chenoy, Secretary General, FICCI believed if the youth of the world unite, there is no stopping growth. 

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