The first day of Youth20 consultation event at IIM Raipur sees enthusiastic participation by the youth
Anurag Singh Thakur engages in ‘Youth Dialogue’ with participants
It is a matter of pride that India is now the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in
the world with 107 unicorns: Anurag Singh Thakur
Discussions during Y20 consultations would aid in peacebuilding and
enable us to achieve the goal of "Vasudev Kutumbakam: Renuka Singh Saruta
IIM, Raipur
successfully organized the two day Y20 consultation event at its campus with
much enthusiasm and fanfare. The first day deliberations yesterday on 25th February, 2023 S were marked by the important
‘Youth Dialogue’ with Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of Youth Affairs &
Sports, Government of India which began with a lot of excitement among the
students. Earlier, in the morning yesterday, the event was inaugurated by Renuka
Singh Saruta, MoS, Tribal Affairs, GoI, in the presence of Dr Ram Kumar
Kakani, the Director of IIM Raipur, along with other esteemed guests.
During his address, Anurag Thakur
highlighted the importance of technology in bridging gaps, providing opportunities
to showcase talent, and solve global problems. The Minister expressed pride
that India is now the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in the world with 107
unicorns. He praised the youth of Chhattisgarh for leveraging disruptive
technologies and possessing unmatched vigour, vitality, and vibrancy. He
further quoted, “Your network is your net worth.” Anurag Thakur motivated
young individuals to expand their network and establish more connections with
people to expand the horizons of their life and work. Moreover, he suggested
that the youth should travel as much as possible to gain extensive exposure and
experiences. He concluded by quoting “You are the present, you are the hope of
the world.”
During the dialogue with the Minister, the youth raised
several questions regarding the involvement of young people in politics,
enhancing GDP, self empowerment, the contribution of international students to
their home country etc. The main lesson learned from this session is that
continuous learning and acquiring new skills can empower young people to
participate in their nation's progress and promote peace. Anurag Singh Thakur
was impressed by the use of traditional art in the logo of IIM Raipur.
Renuka Singh Saruta, emphasized the importance of the Y20
Consultation event as an opportune moment to pay tribute to all the freedom
fighters who secured India's independence and contributed to its progress. She
stated that the Prime Minister also shared this vision and recognized the
importance of Indian youth on the global stage. To tackle issues effectively,
it is necessary to engage in multilateral dialogues and forums, she said.
Despite the difficulties that India has faced, the country has played a crucial
role in promoting world peace since gaining independence. She cited examples of
how conflict had been curbed in Jammu and Kashmir and North Eastern states,
where the youth are now thriving. She expressed optimism that the discussions
during this Y20 consultation would aid in peace building and enable us to
achieve the goal of "Vasudev Kutumbakam."
Dr Ram Kumar Kakani, the Director of IIM Raipur,
delivered the welcome address, expressing his belief that the Y20 Consultation
event is a powerful driver of global transformation. He highlighted the
importance of coming together to address the challenges posed by terrorism,
socialist groups, and societal feudalism. Governments have a critical role to
play in striking a balance between upholding human rights and maintaining law
and order. Inter-community dialogue is crucial to ensuring that peace and
harmony prevail. He encouraged the participants to engage in active discussions
and brainstorming sessions throughout the event, so that they could generate
innovative solutions to the world's most pressing issues.
Prior to the start of the event, the guests were given a
tour of the IIM, Raipur campus. They were treated with millet-based breakfast,
as a contribution to India's observance of the International Year of Millets
2023.
A panel discussion on the subject
of "Channelizing youth in conflict resolution," was conducted.
According to Dr Ajay Kumar Singh, Ex CS, Assam, Bodoland peace negotiator, the
young generation should follow the establishment of peace, uphold and preserve that.
Dr Mohit Garg, IPS, SP, Balrampur, frontline LWE experience, said that gradual
erosion of faith in the system and in the government can be observed in naxal
conflicted areas. The trust can be earned through getting in touch with the
younger generation belonging to these areas, having conversations with them,
and planning activities for them to participate in, including educational,
cultural, and athletic pursuits. Mohd Aijaz Asad, IAS, Deputy Commissioner,
Srinagar emphasized that acts of terrorism and violence stifle the aspirations
of the youth. Reinhard Baumgarten, Reputed journalist, international conflict
zones, German, brought up the conflict in Sudan and suggested that love could
serve as a foundation for lasting peace. Priyanka Bissa, Youth icon, Nehru Yuva
Kendra, said that the discussion of wars also brings up the issues related to
food, water, and resources, national security.
The second panel discussion on Experience Sharing
Peace-making, Peacebuilding and Peacekeeping was moderated by Shri Rajat
Bansal, IAS (DC, Balodabazar). The panelists of this session were Brig. Basant
K Ponwar (Retd), AVSM, VSM (Ex Director, Counter Terrorism and Jungle Warfare
College), Ratan Lal Dangi, IPS (Director, CG State Police Academy), Rob York
(Director, Regional Affairs, Pacific Forum, USA) and Dr Aditi Narayani (Track
chair Y20). The key takeaway from this session was that resolving problems
through the use of weapons is not effective, and that the way of thinking is
more important than the tools available.
The third panel talk, overseen by Dr Sarveshwar Narendra
Bhure, IAS (DC Raipur), was focused on Building consensus among communities.
The panel included Nitesh Kumar Sahu, a young leader from Mungeli,
Chhattisgarh; Dr Philippe Eyebe Awono, an assistant professor at Jean Moulin
University; and Sushree Shwetha Karambelkar, a 2nd year PGP student from IIM
Raipur. One of the significant speakers in this session was B Markam, an ex naxalite,
who later surrendered and brought peace and transformation in the communities.
The session highlights the significance of the United Nations and Indian
leaders such as Gandhi and Buddha in advocating for peace. India's demographic
dividend is its youth population, the largest in the world. However, when it
comes to building communities and promoting peace, citizens are not fully
involved as peacemakers tend to focus on suppressing conflicts rather than
resolving them. Another session moderated by the first year PGP students of IIM
Raipur was focused on multiple perspectives on reconciliation. The speaker Dr
Prem Singh Bogzi (Visiting Distinguished Professor, IIM Raipur) commented that
reconciliation involves recognizing that past actions may not have been ideal
or efficient, but it requires bringing about social, economic, and political
transformations and establishing a shared vision for moving forward.
The most significant segment of the event, which was the
‘Youth Dialogue’ with Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Minister, GOI began with a lot
of excitement among the students. It was moderated by Prof Sanjeev Prashar,
Professor, Marketing, IIM Raipur. The minister began by commending the state of
Chhattisgarh for its progress and expressing pride in being among eager and
imaginative individuals. He was impressed by the use of traditional art in the
logo of IIM Raipur and feeling at home in Chhattisgarh with its waterfalls,
temples, and 44% forest cover.
The state is rich in minerals, forests, metals, and also
produces the famous Kosa silk. He highlighted the importance of technology in
bridging gaps, providing opportunities to showcase talent, and solve global
problems. He praised the youth of Chhattisgarh for leveraging disruptive
technologies and possessing unmatched vigor, vitality, and vibrancy. He beamed
with pride while stating that India is the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in the
world with 107 unicorns. The audience raised many inquiries regarding the
involvement of young people in politics, enhancing GDP, self empowerment, the
contribution of international students to their home country etc. The main
lesson learned from this session is that continuous learning and acquiring new
skills can empower young people to participate in their nation's progress and
promote peace. He further quoted, “Your network is your net worth.” He
motivated young individuals to expand their network and establish more
connections with people as it could be beneficial for their future. Moreover,
he suggested that the youth should travel as much as possible to gain extensive
exposure and experiences. He concluded by quoting “You are the present, you are
the hope of the world.”
In conclusion, the Y20 Consultation event organized by
IIM Raipur was a resounding success, bringing together young leaders, experts,
and policymakers to exchange ideas and develop innovative solutions for
building peaceful and sustainable communities. The panel discussions, keynote
addresses, and youth dialogue sessions explored various perspectives on
community building, consensus-building, and reconciliation, underscoring the
need for collaborative and inclusive approaches to address complex societal
challenges. The event's success underscores IIM Raipur's commitment to
fostering leadership and promoting sustainable development, and building
momentum on this in the future.