Seminar on Opportunities and Challenges for the ST Youth

RGNIYD RC Chandigarh organized a seminar on ‘Opportunities and Challenges for Schedule Tribes Youth in the 21st century’.

It was attended by over 200 tribal students across the 8 Northeast states including Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Professor Nandita Shukla, Dean Students Welfare, Panjab University, Chandigarh was the Chief Guest. Other distinguished speakers present at the seminar were Ms. Manjula Sularia, CEO and Founder Transformers Value Creators, Mr. R.C. Durga, Former Director, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, GOI and Mr. Stanzin Dawa, Regional director, RGNIYD RC Chandigarh.

Professor Nandita Shukla in her inaugural address said “There are ample opportunities and schemes available for the tribal youth but they are not aware of these schemes.

Students should take the benefits available for the ST students.’ She assured to provide her support and guidance to the ST students pursuing their education to access the benefits.

Mr. Durga gave a very informative and insightful presentation on various schemes available for the welfare and development ST population in general and ST youth in particular. He explained the schemes, process to access, how to approach different stakeholders to address the grievances. The students asked different questions related to the schemes and how they could avail those schemes.

Mr. Stanzin Dawa motivated the students “You are the captain of your own ship, shaper of your own destiny and master of your own fate. Your background is not going to determine what you would be in the future, your commitment towards your goal, your positive attitude, your hard work, and your belief in yourself. Easy, lazy and careless attitude is not going to work if you want to be successful in the 21st century, you should do your best because you are not less than other youth. The government has got multiple schemes for the welfare and development of ST youth but these schemes would only help students those who are working hard, those who have a dream and those who have got a ‘Can Do’ attitude.”

Ms. Manjula gave a powerful presentation on all the skills that the employers are looking for in the 21st century and told the participants to know themselves and be proud of who they are. She highlighted the significance of employability skills in the 21st century, she stressed instead of job seekers the youth should strive to be job creators.

Mr Jigmet Raftan the President Ladakh Students Association Chandigarh presented a memorandum on behalf of all the tribal students higlighting the major issues facing by tribal students.