JAMMU, DECEMBER 13: The youth of Jammu and Kashmir possess tremendous talent which needs to be explored at the grassroots level by ensuring quality education to them coupled with high moral values and ethical standards.
This was stated by Secretary, of Youth Services and Sports, Sarmad Hafeez while addressing the concluding ceremony of the Inter-Division UT level competition for the 28th National Youth Festival 2024-25.
Sarmad Hafeez was accompanied by the Director General of Youth Services and Sports, Rajinder Singh Tara, and other officers of the department.
The Secretary said that the youth of the present era are dynamic and energetic adding the only need is to channel their energy in the right direction while guiding them to live a healthy lifestyle away from drug abuse and other social ills.
Sarmad Hafeez thanked the department for providing him an opportunity to witness a wonderful display of art and culture and lavished praise on the organizers, parents, teachers, and trainers for guiding them to do wonderfully well, thus making the event a grand success.
While congratulating the selected artists/students, the Secretary said that participating in the upcoming 28th National Youth Festival in the benign presence of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi would be a dream come true for them. He said through such competitions, the government aims to empower youth with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to become leaders and change-makers in their communities.
Sarmad Hafeez further said that such festive activities apart from helping the youth not to fall prey to social evils, help them to exchange culture, make friends, and learn new languages.
Earlier, Deputy Director of Youth Services and Sports Central, Jitendra Mishra, presented the welcome address and threw light on the significance of the day. He said the festival aims to identify and nurture young talent, providing a platform to share their ideas for Viksit Bharat.
Meanwhile, 30 artists/students who enthralled the audience with their beautiful presentations, have been selected to take part in the 28th National Youth Festival to be held in New Delhi on January 11 and January 12, 2025, with 10 in Folk Song, 10 in Folk Dance and 2 each in Painting, Poetry, Thematic, Story Writing and Declamation.
Prominent among others present on the occasion were Ved Prakash, Joint Director Youth Services and Sports Jammu, and an expert panel of adjudicator