Mysore/Mysuru: “India has the highest population of youth in the world surpassing even China which has the largest population. That is why all other countries call our country as ‘Young India’ and have set their eyes on India,” said Nehru Yuva Kendra Sanghatan (NYKS) Karnataka State Director M.N. Nataraj.

He was presiding and speaking at the ‘District Yuva Utsav’ jointly organised by the Government of India, Ministry of Youth Services and Sports, Nehru Yuva Kendra, Mysuru, a wing of NYKS, Units of National Service Scheme (NSS), University of Mysore (UoM), Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Karnataka, at Maharani’s Arts College here on Thursday.

“Prior to independence, the total population of our country was 33 crore and now has crossed 130 crore. We are behind only China which has the largest population in the world today and soon we will overtake them to become the country with the largest population. In 75 years after independence, our human resource has increased by 100 crore,” said Nataraj.

Observing that India has two youth policies, he said that as per the Youth Policy of 2003, people in the age group of 15 to 35 years are considered as youth and according to Youth Policy of 2014, people in the age group of 15 to 29 have been included in the youth group. India has now about 45 crore of youngsters who are in the age group of 15 to 29. If this mammoth youth force is properly used to build the nation, at least some of the problems can be solved.”Continuing he said, the two prominent and biggest youth organisations in the country, NYKS and NSS, are trying to organise the young males and females by involving them in the process of nation building. Apart from their personal growth, the youths should also think about the contributions they can make to the development of the country. To create awareness in this regard, Youth Utsav is being organised in all the 744 districts of the country, added Nataraj.

Inaugurating the Utsav, Chamaraja MLA K. Harishgowda said that Maharaja’s and Maharani’s Colleges are prestigious institutions of the city. “The Principal has said that there are 8 PG courses in the College and there is a need to provide research facilities here. Efforts will be made to provide them,” he said adding that “the buildings of the College are in a dilapidated condition. I will discuss with the Principal about the facilities needed and work towards providing them by getting grants from the Government.”

MLA Harishgowda advised students to concentrate on their education, rise to higher positions in society and help people.

Competitions in painting, poetry on the subject ‘Panchaprana India – 2024’ and Mobile Photography, Speech and Folk Dance competitions were also held at the Utsav.

College Principal Dr. B.V. Vasanthkumar, UoM NSS Programme Coordinator M.B. Suresh, College Cultural Committee Secretary Dr. R. Jayaraju, Treasurer Dr. Savitha, College NSS Programme Officer Prof. M. Vishwanathan, Dr. Ningaraju, Yuva Kendra Advisory Committee Members Prakash, District Nehru Yuva Kendra Youth Officer Abhishek S. Chavare and others were present at the Utsav.