‘Youth development board to become reality in a month’

Sanjeev Chopra Posted: Feb 06, 2008 at 0059 hrs
Patiala, February 4 The Punjab government will soon set up a youth development board for the welfare of youth in the state. Informing about the decision at the launch of the Healthy Youth Healthy Punjab Campaign against use of drugs at Punjabi University campus today, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and Faridkot Member of Parliament Sukhbir Singh Badal said the board would look after the interests of the youth in the state and would also help resolve their problems.

To be set up within a month, the board would also evolve means to generate employment opportunities for the youth in the state, said Badal. He added that the board chairman would be of the rank of a Cabinet Minister.

Launching the campaign against drugs under the aegis of the Students Organisation of India (SOI), Badal said the message of “No Drugs” would be launched all over the state and would reach out to every school and college of Punjab.

“We have to eradicate the use drugs from our society as it has become dangerous for lives of the youth. We have to weed out drugs from our system,” said the MP.

Addressing the gathering of students at the Punjabi University campus, Badal said that future of Punjab would be bright only if our youngsters remained healthy. He added that industries were being set up in Punjab to provide employment to the youth. He said that new institutions would be set up in rural areas to empower rural youth.

Addressing students, SOI president Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna said the anti-drug movement would be spread across all over the state. He added that two vans have been specially prepared to travel in every nook and corner of the state to spread the message against drugs. Documentaries against drugs will also be shown. Film artiste Mangal Dhillon was also present on the occasion, besides a number of senior Akali leaders.

Prominent among those present include former president of SGPC Kirpal Singh Badungar, former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, former MLAs Surjeet Singh Rakhra and Surjit Singh Kohli, former ministers Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpura, Harmel Singh Tohra, former SS Board Chairman Tejinderpal Singh Sandhu and Patiala Mayor Ajitpal Singh Kohli.