Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini, extending greetings to the youth of the state on International Youth Day, said that youth are not merely defined by age, but represent an immense reservoir of energy, capability and potential. He said young people are not just the future but the greatest strength of the present, and will play a decisive role in translating the vision of Viksit Bharat-2047 into reality.
The Chief Minister was addressing the International Youth Day programme as the Chief Guest at Indradhanush Auditorium in Panchkula on Wednesday. He also launched the HIV-AIDS Awareness Campaign, which will continue across the state till October 12.
Honouring Kurukshetra and Kaithal, the two Haryana districts included among the country’s 15 HIV-safe districts, the Chief Minister said the fight against HIV can be won not through opposition or isolation, but through accurate information, awareness, empathy and sensitivity.
Nayab Singh Saini said that distancing oneself from a person living with HIV is a reflection of ignorance. We have to fight the disease, not the person suffering from it, he said, calling upon society to collectively break the three walls of silence, stigma and shame surrounding HIV. He urged every individual to ensure that accurate information regarding HIV prevention and treatment reaches at least 10 other people.
Only a Healthy Young Generation Can Give Wings to Its Dreams
The Chief Minister said that irrespective of how ambitious the aspirations of young people may be, a healthy and capable body is essential to achieve them. Young people aspiring for good health, quality education, equal opportunities and a secure future must first ensure that they remain physically healthy, said Nayab Singh Saini.
Urging the youth to stay away from drugs, he said, the hand that should hold a skill must not hold a drug-filled syringe, and the eyes that should reflect the brightness of life must not be clouded by the darkness of addiction. He said a healthy body and disciplined character are the foundation of a strong future.
Rural Youth Must Acquire Modern Skills on Par with Urban Youth
Nayab Singh Saini said that under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s youth are moving forward at a rapid pace. The world is undergoing a transformation driven by fields such as artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, drones, electronics, digital technology and renewable energy, and Haryana must remain at the forefront of this transformation.
He said the government is working to ensure that young people in villages have access to modern technology and skills on par with their counterparts in urban areas.The Chief Minister said that ITIs across the state are being upgraded at a cost of around Rs 3,000 crore. Strong partnerships are also being established between industries and training institutions through MoUs so that young people acquire the skills that industries actually require.
He said the objective of skill development is not merely to provide certificates, but to ensure quality employment opportunities for every trained young person.
Youth Must Move from Being Job Seekers to Job Creators
The Chief Minister said that bringing about a change in the mindset of the youth is a priority of the government. Young people should not remain merely job seekers; they should aspire to become job creators. Along with looking for employment, they should also explore opportunities to generate employment for others, he said.
Nayab Singh Saini said that during the last 11-and-a-half years, more than 2 lakh young people have been provided government jobs in Haryana through a transparent system based on the principle of ‘Bina parchi Bina kharchi’. He said that the government has also taken steps towards providing legal security for the future of young people working through the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam.
The Chief Minister said the state government has enacted legislation to protect young people aspiring to go abroad from being cheated by middlemen and has established the Haryana Overseas Cooperation Department. For employment opportunities received from abroad, candidates are interviewed within Haryana itself and are sent overseas through safe and legal channels. No money is charged from the youth for this process, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
MSME Sector to Become the Economic Powerhouse of Youth
The Chief Minister said small dreams can grow into large enterprises and skills can translate into employment. More than 14 lakh MSMEs are currently operating in Haryana. He said that to further strengthen this sector, the state government has implemented the Haryana Progressive MSME and Export Promotion Policy-2026. Under the policy, the government has set a target of attracting more than Rs 55,000 crore in investment, creating over 5 lakh new employment opportunities and doubling the state’s exports over the next five years, said Nayab Singh Saini.
He said that under the new Startup Policy, more than 10,000 startups have already been established in the state. To transform the ideas of young people into successful enterprises, they need not only capital but also supportive policies, markets, infrastructure and industry partnerships. The Chief Minister said that the Haryana Government is organising an Ideathon this week, in which any young person can share their ideas.
10 New Industrial Model Townships to Expand Employment Opportunities
The Chief Minister said that drawing inspiration from the success of IMT Kharkhoda, the state has taken a major decision to develop 10 new Industrial Model Townships.
He said these townships are not merely projects involving land and factories, but projects linked to the future of Haryana’s youth. They will create greater employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for skilled workers, engineers, technicians and entrepreneurs.
Every Talented Youngster Must Move from the Playing Field to the International Stage
Nayab Singh Saini said that along with building the economy, it is equally important to build healthy bodies and strong character, and sports is one of the most powerful means of achieving this.
The Chief Minister said that Haryana is a land of sporting talent, and athletes from the state have brought glory to the country on international platforms. He said that recently, at the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, India won 39 medals, including 13 gold medals. Of these 13 gold medals, 7 were won by athletes from Haryana, including 5 gold medals won by the daughters of Haryana.
He said this is not merely a tally of medals, but a reflection of the hard work of Haryana’s youth, the passion of its athletes and the aspirations and achievements of its daughters.
The Chief Minister said the government’s objective is to ensure that every talented child has a clear pathway from the village playground to the national and international stage. He said the government is continuously working to ensure that Haryana makes the maximum contribution towards India’s goal of becoming a global sporting power by 2036.
Nayab Singh Saini said around 2,000 sports nurseries are currently operational across the state, where more than 40,000 young people are receiving training. Along with providing direct government employment to sportspersons, the government is also awarding crores of rupees in cash prizes to winners. During the last 11-and-a-half years, a total of Rs 683 crore in prize money has been awarded to 16,418 sportspersons.
Let Youth Power Illuminate the Lamps of Knowledge, Responsibility and Sensitivity
The Chief Minister said Haryana needs a generation of youth who are healthy, skilled, disciplined and entrepreneurial, and who, while achieving success for themselves, also remain sensitive towards society.
Calling upon the youth on International Youth Day, he said every young person should light three lamps within themselves—the lamp of knowledge, the lamp of responsibility and the lamp of sensitivity.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that today’s youth power will become the strongest foundation of a Developed Haryana and a Developed India. Minister of State Gaurav Gautam Appreciates Haryana’s Young Sportspersons Minister of State for Sports, Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship,Gaurav Gautam, said that young sportspersons from Haryana have enhanced India’s prestige across the world.
He said that everyone is aware that before 2014, the number of startups in India was very limited, whereas today, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country’s youth have established thousands of startups, providing employment to lakhs of other young people.
He said India’s youth are increasingly moving from being job seekers to becoming job creators. Gaurav Gautam said that following the path shown by the Prime Minister, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has also opened new avenues for the state’s youth in sports, education and employment.
Calling upon the youth to draw inspiration from those who have devoted everything for the advancement of the nation, he said that certain foreign forces are attempting to destabilise the country and tarnish its image by using the youth as a pretext. However, India will never allow such external forces to succeed in their designs.
Former Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Gian Chand Gupta, Panchkula Mayor, Shyam Lal Bansal, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Dr Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary, Youth and Empowerment Department, Dr G. Anupama, along with a large number of dignitaries, were also present on the occasion.
