Prince Charles pats Punjab CM initiative for cleaning of rivers

by Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH OCT 4

            His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales today appreciated the efforts initiated by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal for the cleaning of rivers in the state to make them pollution free with in one-and-a-half year besides pioneering path breaking initiatives of skill development to tackle the problem of unemployment.

            Addressing at a function organized by Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST) here at Punjab Raj Bhawan this afternoon, HRH Prince of Wales emphasized the need to establish environment friendly partnership business enterprises at the grass root level to encourage our disadvantaged youth to undertake up green sustainable initiatives.  He also commended the Bank of Baroda and the Indian Bank for liberally advancing loans to the unemployed youth to set up their ventures through BYST.  The Prince of Wales also lauded the role of mentors in motivating the youth to adopt eco-businesses with a thrust on environment protection, economic prosperity and social equity.

            Appreciating the spectacular performance of BYST under the stewardship of founding Trustees and Executive Vice President Ms. Lakshmi V Venkatesan, Prince Charles said that this trust was set up in way back in 1992 and till today it had several success stories to its credit which has transformed the lives of millions of persons from under privileged sections of the society into successful entrepreneurs. 

            Realizing the enormous contribution of Sikh community towards the growth and development of the British economy, the  Prince of Wales said that Punjabi Diaspora  settled in UK especially the Sikhs had contributed with magnanimity           for the promotion of world-wide programmes initiated by him for the welfare of the mankind.  He expressed satisfaction over the performance of BYST which was the first organization to replicate the Prince's Trust Youth Business model successfully outside the UK.  He also welcomed the proposal of Mr. Badal to launch skill development partnership programme in Punjab to impart training to the unemployed youth so that they could be gainfully employed. 

            In his address, the Punjab Governor Mr. Shivraj V Patil welcomed the Prince of Wales and appreciated his concern for helping the enterprising the young inventors and industrialists through BYST.  He apprised Prince Charles that in India, the Union Government and State Governments had formulated policies and established ministries, departments and institutions to use non-conventional sources of energy and the resources of nature in such a manner that environment was not polluted and it was our bounden duty to preserve its pristine beauty and these resources. 

            Mr. Patil said that it was the need of the hour to jointly initiate efforts by all the individuals, non-governmental organizations, corporate world and governments of the country and the world on the basis of understanding to make this planet, more livable, loveable, comfortable and profitable to live in for all of us.   

Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal sought the guidance and cooperation in supporting our unemployed youth by establishing innovative skill development partnership programme as per requirement of the British Industry, so that our trained youth could be gainfully employed in the UK.  He also urged the Prince Charles to extend the activities of Prince's Trust Youth Business model to Punjab and extended an open invitation to the BYST to set up the trust's offices in Punjab and to work for supporting the youth in their enterprises.  He assured of all help and cooperation to the BYST on behalf of the Punjab government as well as his personal capacity. 

Outlining the priorities of his government to tackle the problem of unemployment and water pollution through cleaning of rivers, Mr. Badal said that Punjab would soon become the first ever state in the country to have clean waters flowing in its rivers the Satluj, Beas and Ghaggar.  He also said that his government had taken concerted efforts to promote the skill development programme in the state to provide tremendous job opportunities to our unemployed youth especially in the rural areas.

Underlining the need to tackle the problem of unemployment on the priority, Mr. Badal pointed out that unemployment had not only affected India but had also now become a global issue.   As 40% of India’s total population represented youth, which was now confronted with acute problem of unemployment due to limited scope of jobs in government public and private sector, added Mr. Badal.

Earlier, Mr. Subodh Bhargav Board member BYST and past President CII welcomed the Prince of Wales and Founding Trustee and Executive Vice President Ms. Lakshmi V Venkatesan briefly outlined the significant achievements of the BYST and its perspective plan for private sector investment in mentoring and fostering small enterprises in the informal sector through appropriate linkages. 

On the occasion, Prince Charles, Mr. Shivraj V Patil and Mr. Badal honoured the enterprising entrepreneurs by awarding Regional Eco-business Ambassador Eco-preneurs Club certificates to Mr. Hitender Punyane for innovative eco-friendly cooling techniques, Mr. Amin Almel, for LED Lighting & Tyre Inflator, Mr. R.Vaidyanathan for water level controllers and Mr. G.Bhanu Murty for Soy Milk Ice Cream.  Mr. Vaibhav Jaiswal and Mr. Amardeep Bardhan were honoured by Prince Charles with a cash prize of Rs.10000 for Arecanut Leaves Kitchen ware and decorative/gift items.

Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion, Board Member BYST and past President CII Mr. Suresh Neotia, Chairman CII Northern Region Mr. RM Khanna, High Commissioner of UK to India Mr. Paul Grey and Punjab Chief Secretary Mr. SC Agrawal.