Imphal, Sep 13: Manipur Governor, Dr Najma Heptulla on Friday said India is considered the youngest nation with the world’s maximum number of youths as 34 per cent of India’s total population are youth.
“This 34% is enormous human resources and constitutes for the country’s future. If we can harness this powerhouse of the nation in the right direction, then the country can reach the lofty heights,†she said addressing the third state level youth convention, 2019 organized by Service Bridge Agency at Raj Bhavan here.
Stating that youth today is a major resource for not only development of financial prosperity but for social changes as well, Heptulla said, despite holding such importance, their energy is still not being channelized in the right direction.â€
With the inculcation of youth empowerment, she said that the youth can reject the status quo and pave the path for better governance and also empowerment ensures that youth has the necessary skill to sustain a livelihood, preventing him to adopt the path of crime.
“The worst thing about being addicted to drugs is that it affects the youth miserably she said. We have seen the impact of drug use in communities and the sheer desperation of parents to rescue their children from this scourge,†the Governor said.
Stating that Manipur is one of the States substantially affected by drug trafficking and its concomitant issues, Heptulla said, “Ganja and poppy are widely cultivated and poverty is the key factor which drives unemployed locals to take to such cultivation.â€
Seeing the gravity of this menace, the Governor said she has taken an initiative for the State Government to co-host with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Regional Office for South Asia a 2-day Regional International Conference-cum-Meeting on the theme, ‘Comprehensive Approach to combating illicit trafficking of Afghan Opiates and Drug Situation in the North East’ at Raj Bhavan, Imphal on 30 September – 01 October, 2019.
Representatives from 6 South Asian countries and 7 States of the northeast will congregate to hold brain storming deliberations on issues relating to drug trafficking and drug abuse, she said.
