Camps in Kullu, Manali to win over youth

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Nagar (Kullu), August 31

Sensing the potential of the youth in swaying votes in their favour, the Akali regime in Punjab is holding leadership training camps for young men and women from all over Punjab in the salubrious climes of Kullu-Manali, just when the Assembly elections are round the corner.

It might sound ironical but true that the Punjab Government has chosen Kullu-Manali, notorious as “drug haven” for making youth aware about the ill-effects of drugs. It is the Department of Youth Services which has taken upon itself the responsibility of organising these camps, 10 of which will be held separately for girls and boys from all over Punjab.

Interestingly, these 10-day camps are being held after a gap of five years, to coincide with the Assembly elections in Punjab. Sources revealed that the last time similar camps were held at Tara Devi on the suburbs of Shimla just before the last Assembly elections.

For the young boys who are part of the first batch of youth to be undergoing the leadership training camp which started on August 24, it is nothing short of a paid holiday. “We too sense why the camps are being held after five years and not annually but then we too are politically mature whom to vote for,” the students say.

The Punjab Government intends to hold 10 such camps till December, five each for boys and girls. As such, they intend to train over 2,000 boys and girls. Dr Jagmeet Bawa, commandant, said on an average Rs10 lakh would be incurred on one camp. The department also plans to hold trekking camps for 1,000 Punjabi youth from September 3 onwards.

Camp Commandant Guru Darshan Singh Bhai said the motive behind organising such camps was to make the youth aware youth about leadership qualities as they had a major role in nation building.

“Drug menace and high addiction rate is the main issue which we are trying to address as many precious young lives are lost due to drugs,” he said. Other important issues like environment protection, corruption eradication and service toward humanity are also being discussed during the camp.

Talking to The Tribune here today participants Lovepreet Singh of Mansa, Rajbeer Singh of Fazilka, and Arjun Singh of Ferozepur said such camps should be organised regularly for the inclusive development of youths, which would give them an opportunity to learn new things in life.

The selection criteria for undergoing the training was that these youth should be members of the youth clubs registered with the Youth Service Department. The participants included college and school students, NSS volunteers and youths clubs registered with the department. The youth also took part in adventurous sports like trekking, hiking, rope climbing and visited famous tourist places in Kullu-Manali.