27 Sep : “We are opening skill centers in the state to enable the youth to acquire those skills and traits which the prospective employers expect from them for giving them employment. The youth should change their attitude and not hanker after government jobs and rather start their own ventures”.
This was stated by the chief minister Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal while inaugurating the conference on promoting north India as destination for cinematic tourism, today, organised by the ITFT (Institute of Technology and Future Management Trends) Education Group and the Centre for Media and Entertainment Studies in collaboration with Chandigarh tourism at its new sprawling campus at village Hoshiarpur on PGI Mullanpur road.
Mr. Badal said that the greatest problem today, was to provide employment to the youth and the present conference could prove to be a catalyst in generating employment by promoting the media and entertainment industry, which was one of the fastest growing industries in the world. He said that the conference was being held on the world tourism day, which was celebrated every year on September 27 to highlight the socio- economic benefits which accrued tourism development. He said that today the celebrations of the great martyr shaheed Bhagat Singh were also being organised in the state.
Chief Minister said Punjab had many attractions which need to be harnessed to promote its tourism industry, adding that when the existing road to Baddi and Kurali would be converted into four lane highway,there would be all round development. Appreciating the efforts of the ITFT for setting up the institute, chief minister said that many more such institutes need to be opened in the state, assuring all assistance to the ITFT in this regard. He also released the book on cinematic tourism researched and brought out by the ITFT Chandigarh.
He said that the Punjabis were born leaders with great qualities and had remarkable acents to their credit throughout the world. w for initiative and had the ability to notable things chief minister said. He said that by dint of their hard work many Punjabi were occupying high positions in many countries, especially in Canada, where many Punjabis were members of Parliament.
Referring to the suggestion of Dr Gulshan Sharma, executive director, ITFT, for providing 40 to 50 acres of land for setting up entertainment related infrastructure , the chief minister assured all help in this regard.
Dy Speaker Lok Sabha, Mr Charnjit Singh Atwal lauded the efforts of the ITFT in employment generation , which would help in weaning away the youth from drug addiction and other socially undesirable activities.
Making a forceful plea in promoting Punjab as a destination for television and film shootings, Harry Baweja said that many countries were providing incentives and concessions to the producers to make films as they brought considerable economic benefits for local economies and generate employment . He said that Punjab need to package and sell its attractions, which were truly world class endowed with rich cultural heritage, magnificent landscape and unique customs, traditions and lifestule of the people. Writer – director Manmohan Singh,, adviser to many travel and tourism organisattions Anjana Gosain and local MLA, Ujjagar Singh Badali also spoke on the occasion.
On this occasion , Harry Baweja and Manmohan Singh were honoured for their meritorious contribution to entertainment industry, Raju Nagpal and M M Jolly for their contribution to events industry, Prof Narinder Kumar and Shivjit Walia for their contribution to tourism, Prof Satish Verma and Vikesh Nijhawan as eminent litterateur, N K Sathi for promoting theatre, Anjana Gosain for her role in legal matters relating to tourism industry and Chandigarh Management Association for its contribution to human resource development.
