Garhshankar, May 3: Aam Aadmi Party National Convener Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced a significant initiative to set up sports clubs in every village across Punjab to engage the youth in constructive activities and keep them away from the menace of drugs.
Addressing youth leaders here today through video conference, Arvind Kejriwal asserted that these clubs will be equipped with state-of-the-art sports facilities, which will provide opportunities for the youth to excel in athletics and other sports. He lauded Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for inspiring the youth towards patriotism and goal-setting by highlighting the lives of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and other martyrs. The former Delhi Chief Minister expressed hope that the three-day leadership training programme would create a new wave and consciousness among the youth, who would play a vital role in the state's war against drugs.
Congratulating the participants, Arvind Kejriwal urged them to motivate drug addicts to seek de-addiction and rehabilitation centres so that the coming generations can be saved from the scourge of drugs. Recalling the initiatives of AAP in Delhi for youth engagement, he mentioned the successful Business Blaster programme for students of class 11 and 12, which promotes entrepreneurial skills. The former Delhi Chief Minister said that business leadership is in the blood of Punjabis and the youth should use their untapped potential in sports and entrepreneurship for a bright future.
Arvind Kejriwal assured full support and cooperation to the youth of the state for this noble initiative and said that no stone will be left unturned for this purpose. He said that AAP is committed to youth empowerment and complete eradication of drugs through a combination of sports, education and rehabilitation to build a healthy society. The former Delhi Chief Minister said that the day is not far when these young leaders, NGOs and other partners will ensure that Punjab is a drug-free and progressive state.
Arvind Kejriwal said that he firmly believes that youth are full of boundless energy which needs to be channelized in the right direction, due to which youth clubs have an important role in the society. He said that it is a matter of happiness that the Punjab government is working systematically to channelize the energy of the youth into activities that teach the value of self-development and team spirit. The former Delhi Chief Minister said that the youth clubs have been formed to prepare youth with various talents, such as - team building, activities related to creating a sense of helping the disabled in some way, promoting sports and physical fitness, awareness to preserve nature and environment, promoting folk dances, inspiring singing, art and crafts and entrepreneurship and other important areas, etc.
Arvind Kejriwal expressed the hope that these youth clubs will emerge as a powerful self-motivated positive energy, which will give the youth the right guidance for lasting happiness based on the four eternal qualities of wisdom, justice, courage and temperance. He said that this will help the youth to get rid of the menace of drugs and make them an active partner in the socio-economic progress of the state. The former Chief Minister of Delhi appealed to all the youth to participate in this movement with full enthusiasm so that with the active cooperation and sincere support of all, Punjab can be made a progressive and prosperous state.