Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta released a 100-day roadmap for youth development aimed at promoting skill development, entrepreneurship, employment generation and sustainable rural livelihoods.
Prepared in accordance with the directions of Gupta’s Inter-University Viksit Bharat Task Force, the roadmap seeks to strengthen innovation, promote best practices and enhance coordination among universities to improve the quality and relevance of higher education and contribute to the development of Himachal Pradesh.
Speaking on the occasion, Gupta, who is the chancellor of Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, said that the roadmap of the varsity was in line with the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said youth empowerment, skill development and entrepreneurship serve as the key drivers of national progress.
The potential of Himachal Pradesh’s youth must be harnessed by connecting academic learning with practical skills and emerging economic opportunities, Gupta said.
The governor said that the state’s strengths in horticulture, forestry and allied sectors offered immense opportunities for young people to become entrepreneurs, generate employment and strengthen the rural economy.
He expressed confidence that the initiative would encourage innovation, promote self-reliance and enable youth to transform their knowledge into productive ventures.
Stressing that there is a dire need to transform the mindset of the youth from job seekers into job providers, he stated that the 100-day roadmap serves as an effective blueprint to bridge the gap between academic education and real-world market demands.
“By equipping students with practical skills, fostering innovation, and opening avenues for self-reliance in key sectors like horticulture and forestry, the roadmap will enable the state’s youth to become active leaders in economic growth and key contributors to a developed India,” he said.
“The roadmap envisages hands-on training in orchard management, grafting, nursery production, protected cultivation, mushroom farming, beekeeping, tissue culture, soil testing, agroforestry and value addition.
“It also focuses on experiential learning, Rural Agricultural Work Experience (RAWE), business planning, market linkages and industry internships to enhance employability and entrepreneurial capabilities. Special emphasis will be laid on rural youth, women, tribal communities, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs),” he added. PTI
