Youth should be encouraged to become 'innovators': PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that his government wants to encourage the country's youth as 'innovators' and make them 'job creators.'

Addressing the 22nd National Youth Festival via video conference, the Prime Minister said, "We were born after 1947, thus, we did not have the honour to take part in the freedom struggle. But, we have the opportunity to fulfill the dreams of the great men and women who helped us attain freedom from the British rule. We have to create India that our freedom fighters dreamt of. We want to make our youth job creators. They should be encouraged to become the ones who innovate."

He added that during his monthly radio address, 'Mann Ki Baat' in December, he had called for organising mock parliaments in all the districts.

"Such mock parliaments will further the spirit of discussion among our youth," he stated.

Coinciding with the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the five-day youth festival commences today at Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida.

The festival is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with the state government of Uttar Pradesh.