Chandigarh: Terming the youth as the bedrock of the society who need to be empowered in order to enable the State and Country occupy centre stage on all developmental parameters, the Local Government, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister, Punjab, Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu laid special emphasis on youth being the prime focus of all the policies.

Addressing the students here today at the Panjab University during law fest DROIT MELANGE organized by the Department of Laws, the minister said that youth power lay at the root of the progress of any society.

He also strongly advocated the framing of a robust youth policy with spending in the educational sector as the main feature for this sphere is vital contributor in making youth good citizens of a society.

Listing the self belief as the single most significant factor in paving the way for success and greatness, Mr. Sidhu recounted various incidents from his days as a cricket player when the sheer will power and the courage to succeed worked wonders for his self confidence and transformed him into a successful player.

He also cited the careers of Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev as being the prime examples of the deadly combination of self belief in times of adversity plus talent which striked gold for these legends professionally. He called fear of failure as the biggest impediment to success.

Interacting with the media-persons on the sidelines of the fest, the minister termed the Union Budget presented today as a big disappointment for the common man and called it anti-people.

He said that the increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops should be in proportion to the increase in oil prices. On the issue of stubble burning the minister made a strong case for bringing the farmers not indulging in burning of paddy stubble under the MGNREGA scheme and thus incentivizing them.

Mr. Sidhu also batted wholeheartedly for a separate budget for the youth as the country has 60 percent youth population which calls for giving prime importance to their needs and aspirations.

The minister also reacted strongly to the statement made recently by the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi that even those selling ‘Pakoras’ on the roadsides should be considered effectively employed and said that the pathetic economic condition of the people indulging in this vocation is known to all and their lot must be ameliorated through some sound financial planning giving them the pivotal attention.

Among others present on the occasion included Director Student Welfare Prof. Emanual Nahar, Dean Law faculty Advocate Anu Chatrath, Chairperson, Department of Laws Prof. Shalini Marwaha, Associate Director Student Welfare and Director University Institute of Legal Studies, Co-ordinator DROIT MELANGE Prof. Meenu Paul, Dr. Supinder Kaur and Prof Ratan Singh.