Kiran Bedi exhorts youth to participate in nation building

Former Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi on Thursday urged students and youth to get actively involved in nation building by becoming wealth creators and healthy citizens. 

Participating in Puducherry Outlook conclave organised by the Democratic Organisation for Civic Knowledge in Puducherry, she said people’s participation was essential to build a nation. 

“People’s participation can happen only when students and youth become conscious of the happenings around by acquiring knowledge through reading. Reading is a must for everyone to become aware of issues concerning them,” she said. 

The students should utilise the immense opportunities available in the education and health sectors in the Union Territory. The region has a large number of higher education institutions that could serve as economic multipliers. The students should try to be wealth creators by venturing into entrepreneurship rather than looking for job opportunities, Ms. Bedi said. 

“The medical colleges should try to adopt at least one village and monitor the health of its residents. The medical students should be deployed in the villages. Such steps would help in making the Union Territory, the healthiest. Students should adopt healthy habits to create a healthy nation and reduce treatment costs,” she said. 

To questions related to her tenure in the Union Territory and administrative subjects, the former Lieutenant Governor said all her decisions were in the larger interests of the people and in accordance with law. “The Lt. Governor’s position is non-political and non-partisan. Decisions were taken in the larger interests of the public. The Lt. Governor enjoyed no immunity, and all decisions must be in accordance with law,” the former IPS officer said. 

Former secretary to the Lt. Governor, G. Theva Neethi Dhas, also participated.