'Youth participation essential in policy making'

Makwanpur, May 12: Chief Minister of Bagmati Province, Bahadur Singh Lama, has said development of youth leadership is essential for policy and decision making. Once youths are capacitated, they can contribute to governance, he argued.    
    
Inaugurating the Province Youth Summit-2082 organized by Province Youth Council here Sunday, CM Lama said recognizing youths' talent and role in governance would be beneficial to take ahead the journey of development and prosperity. "The province government has adopted a policy to pay heed to the needs and demands of youths while making any policy," he informed, adding that youths are not only the pillars of future development but also the partners at present.    
    
The CM further said youth participation and partnership are required to drive development works in multiple fronts. He assured that province government had prioritized youths' role and development in the upcoming budget. Youths' aspiration and needs would be reflected in policies and programmes of Bagmati Province, he reiterated.    
    
The role of youths along with their education, skills and employments must not be ignored to reap demographic dividend.    
    
On the occasion, Minister for Youth and Sports in province, Min Krishna Maharjan, said youths' skills and sports could be linked and further initiatives launched accordingly.    
    
Vice Chairperson of the Council, Santosh Chaulagain, said the event was organized to bring together the government and youths. He lauded that province government's works were visible in the issues relating to youth. Council was contributing to the province government in formulation of laws on youth.    
    
He argued that various schemes in agricultural sector were launched to attract youths in it. It was worrying that Nepal was dependent on import while its 62 percent youths are involved in agriculture, Chaulagain shared plight.    
    
More than 300 youths from all seven provinces have participated in the summit that runs till May 13. The three-day event features the agenda like potential and challenges of youth innovation in agriculture, digital governance, youths in technology, climate change and SDGs, skill development raining to youths, policy leadership, youth participation and youths with Chief Minister. Various panel discussions are conducted as part of the summit. (RSS)