Bhaichung Bhutia Commends Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, Advocates for Sports-Centric Education Policies

New Delhi, Jan 11 (NationPress) Bhaichung Bhutia, the ex-captain of the Indian football team, expressed his appreciation towards the Central Government for orchestrating the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, which has created an opportunity for the youth to exchange their innovative ideas and solutions.

The three-day event, organized by the Department of Youth Affairs under Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, commenced at Bharat Mandapam on Friday. This dialogue aspires to empower young minds to contribute towards the vision of a developed India with their groundbreaking ideas.

In an interview with IANS on Saturday, Bhutia termed the initiative as a significant stride towards empowering the youth, especially in the sports sector.

"This is an excellent initiative by PM Modi and the Sports Ministry. This marks the beginning for the youth and sports to transform India into a sporting nation. Today, we had the opportunity to hear from numerous young startups, innovators, and entrepreneurs within the sporting domain," he remarked.

He underscored the necessity for collaboration between the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Education to reform educational policies, making them more conducive to sports.

"Our educational framework places excessive pressure on children to concentrate solely on academics, resulting in a surplus of engineers, doctors, and bureaucrats. We must foster equal opportunities for sports so that gifted children can evolve into sporting heroes of India in the future," he stated.

Bhutia also stressed the significance of discipline and commitment in sports and other disciplines.

"Success in sports is achieved through sincerity, integrity, diligence, and commitment. There are no shortcuts to success. This discipline should also be applied in politics and other sectors for the country to thrive," he added.

The event was inaugurated on Saturday with Union Ministers Mansukh Mandaviya and Raksha Khadse, along with other distinguished guests, overseeing the inaugural session.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the concluding day of the event on Sunday, January 12, which coincides with National Youth Day, celebrated annually to commemorate Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary.

PM Modi will unveil a specially-curated Coffee Table Book featuring the finest essays from ten thematic areas and launch the Youth Anthem, a musical piece intended to inspire and unite India's youth under a collective vision for national progress.

A total of 3,000 participants, selected through a merit-based, multi-level process, are presenting their ideas.

This includes 1,500 individuals from the Viksit Bharat Track, representing the top 500 teams from state championships, 1,000 selected from cultural programs and exhibitions, and 500 recognized for their pioneering contributions across ten thematic tracks.

The dialogue signifies a convergence of youth leadership and innovative ideas. Activities involve cultural programs, exhibitions, and brainstorming sessions focused on innovation and development.

January 12 is poised to be the pivotal moment of the event, featuring the eagerly awaited interaction between PM Modi and the participants, who are united in their aspiration for a Viksit Bharat by 2047.