By Ronita Torcato
G-20 India Sherpa Amitabh Kant underlined the importance of skill development, educational opportunities, and collaboration between government and private organizations to enable youth to create innovative solutions.
Mr Kant was speaking at the Indian Merchants Chambers ‘s Young Leaders’ Forum’s Annual Youth Conclave 2023, which was attended in virtual mode by students, youth and young entrepreneurs.
IMC’s YLF organized its Annual Youth Conclave for 2023 on the theme “(EKTA) One South Asia |One Earth, One Family, One Future” with the aim of bringing together youth and students from across South Asia on one (virtual) platform to discuss G20 themes and to use Indian and global South Asian experiences, learnings, and models as templates for global solutions.
The Indian Merchants’ Chamber had founded its Young Leader’s Forum way back in 2001. IMC-YLF Annual Youth Conclave was held with a motivating message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021, to complement the efforts of the Government of India to harness and channelize the energies of the youth.
Delivering the key note address at this year’s edition, Mr Kant noted that the number of start-ups in India has grown from 400 to 90,000 in recent years and these start-ups have improved outcomes at a large scale and low cost by innovating in fields like agriculture, education, nutrition and health.
The G-20 India Sherpa said that South Asia’s youth possess an innate entrapreneurial spirit driven by their aspirations, resilience, and willingness to take risks.
He said India has emerged as a major driver of technology and economic growth with its young population and dynamic start-up ecosystem. He also highlighted South Asia’s technological transformation which has helped youth embrace digital tools and social media, to leverage technology for social good.
The Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance Jayant Sinha who delivered the inaugural address, spoke about climate change issues and stressed the need to follow a net zero development model that creates millions of green jobs .
Anant Singhania, President, IMC in his welcome remarks described IMC YLF Annual Youth Conclave 2023 as one that embodies the spirit of collaboration, creativity, and innovation as the youth of today hold the key to addressing some of the most pressing issues facing the world, be it climate change, economic growth, or social justice.
The knowledge sharing sessions aligned with the conclave’s thematic areas, namely IMAGINE, HEAL, UNITE, CREATE and HARMONY giving the audience a platform for engagement and learning on creative economy, climate action, green development, sustainability, and entrepreneurship among others.
A highlight of this year’s Conclave was a Social Fiction Competition (Imagining the Future) for students from pan-India colleges as well as South Asian international institutes and universities to showcase their creativity and imagination on G20-themes.
The winners:
For the topic “Disruptive Leadership in Social Movements” Namita Pai from SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Navi Mumbai.
For the topic “Climate Refugees and Resilient Communities,” Rakshit Agarwal from the Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur.
For the topic “Clean Energy Revolution“, Lopoli Melo from Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh.
There was a tie for the topic “Inclusive Technology for All”between Mithil Mukesh Vanigota, HSNC University, Mumbai and Cestarangga Adikerta, University of Indonesia.
Another tie for the topic “Women led social enterprises”, the winners being Dechen Spalzes, University of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ugyen Dema, College of Language and Culture Studies Royal University of Bhutan.
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