Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar speaks to students at Yuva Samvada in JSS College

Mysore/Mysuru: Union Minister of State for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that the development initiatives taken up by the Modi Government like Digital India and the Skill India Mission have ushered in tremendous opportunities for young Indians.

Addressing a gathering of a young crowd at ‘Yuva Samvada’ organised by JSS College, Ooty Road recently, the Minister drew a comparison between India pre-2014 and post-2014, when Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister.

He noted that the country is today at an inflexion point — the most exciting period in its history. Tremendous opportunities are available for young Indians, who will be the main drivers of India’s ‘Techade’ (tech-ade like a decade).

“Today, young Indians are driving the country’s progress in India’s Techade. Between 2014 and 2023, 90,000 start-ups and 110 unicorns have been created by young Indians on their own merits and initiatives,” he said.

Wider opportunities

“Students of this generation are lucky and have wider opportunities to grab jobs both at the national and global levels. India has been transformed from an old to a new face with all provisions for the holistic development of society. The nation is growing well in education, technology, employment and development aspects with precious and visioned initiatives of the Union Government,” he said.

Speaking about lack of opportunities in old India, he said, “Corruption and nepotism were rife and a total contrast from the opportunity-rich era of New India ushered in by the Narendra Modi Government through its various proactive and pro-people policies and programmes.” 

Able commander makes a difference

“We are at a time when there are effective implementations of schemes for getting spontaneous, corruption-and-intermediate-free fruitful outcome to beneficiaries, growing banking sectors, advanced rail, air and road transportation and 5G networks. Robust and timely actions to combat the COVID crisis, vaccine innovation and improving the economy. These are some of the instances to prove that India is being commanded and ably led well even in unprecedented situations,” he added.

Highlighting the impetus that has been given to previously non-existent sectors in New India, he said, “In 2014, 82 percent of mobile phones used in India were imported and that has changed to almost 100 percent of all mobile phones being used in India, being made domestically. Before 2014, we had zero exports of mobile phones as opposed to this year where we will export Rs. 90,000 crore worth of phones made in India.”

 Speaking about the improvement in governance, Rajeev pointed out that India’s tax collections have reached over 30 percent above their target. He revealed that this has enabled India to spend a record of Rs. 13 lakh crore in infrastructure.

The Minister has been visiting Colleges and Universities across the country to interact with students and encourage them to take up skills training and entrepreneurship along with their education. This visit to JSS College of Arts, Commerce and Science was his 46th to an educational institution.

More than 500 PG students attended. State BJP Secretary Vinay Bidari, City BJP President T.S. Srivatsa, Director of College Education Division of JSS Mahavidyapeetha Prof. R. Mugeshappa and Assistant Director B. Niranjana Murthy were present. Chief Executive of College Prof. B.V. Sambashivaiah welcomed. Principal Prof. M.P. Vijayendra Kumar proposed a vote of thanks. Vasavi rendered invocation. Dr. N. Rajendraprasad compered.