*CM EXHORTS VCs PLAY A PROACTIVE ROLE IN PROGRESS OF THE STATE BY DULY FOCUSING ON CONFIDENCE BUILDING OF THE YOUTH*

SAYS STATE GOVERNMENT MULLING TO INTRODUCE THE MAKERSSPACE CONCEPT IN PUNJAB

ASSERTS THAT G-20 SUMMIT ON EDUCATION WILL ENRICH THE LIVES OF STUDENTS BY WIDENING THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON GLOBAL ISSUES

Chandigarh, December 14-

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday exhorted the Vice Chancellors of the Universities to play a proactive role in socio-economic progress of the state by duly focusing on confidence building of the youth.

Chairing a meeting of the Vice Chancellors of Universities of the state here at his office on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said that the youth is the biggest asset of the state which needs to be perfectly nurtured for ensuring the progress of the state and the prosperity of its people. He said that the need of hour is to ensure the proper capacity building of the youth so that their services can be aptly utilised for the development of the state. Bhagwant Mann said that the Universities are temples of learning and they must be used well, motivating the youth to be the leaders of the coming times.

Underlining the need for imparting quality skill education to the students, the Chief Minister said that it is the need of the hour to cope with the needs of industrial giants who are coming in a big way to invest in the state. Bhagwant Mann said that through skill education the state will be able to have a huge pool of skilled manpower which will be beneficial for the industry. He also said that the skill education will also open new vistas of self employment for the youth thereby enabling them to live a life with dignity and pride.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has already set up an Innovation centre at Mohali which is proving instrumental for all-round development of the youth of the state. He said that this centre is grooming the youth well to enable them to meet with the future challenges and succeed in life. Bhagwant Mann envisioned that this innovation centre will play a pivotal role in utilising the unbounded energy of the youth in a positive direction thereby making them active partners in socio-economic growth of the state.

The Chief Minister further said that the state government is also mulling to introduce the makerspace concept in Punjab. Bhagwant Mann said that he had studied this project during his recent visit to Germany adding that makerspace will be a place for hands-on learning with all the tools for creativity. He said that this maker space will be equipped with facilities of 3D designing and printing, audio-visual equipment, hand tools and others to tap the hidden potential of youth in the field of creativity.

Dwelling on another issue, the Chief Minister said that the state is fortunate that two sessions of the prestigious G-20 summit are being held in Punjab during March and June. He said the summit being held in March is based on education so the students studying in Universities should be involved in this summit in large numbers. Bhagwant Mann said that this will help in enriching the lives of students by widening their perspective on global issues.