CYSD Foundation Day: Odisha Governor Urges Youths To Be Agents Of Change

Bhubaneswar: Youths are the embodiment of sincerity, aspiration, generosity and steady determination. They have no caste, creed or religion. They are for co-existence and collaboration, said Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal.

The Governor was addressing the youths, university students and grassroots community members from tribal-dominated districts of Odisha and dignitaries at Vihaan-2023 in Bhubaneswar on Friday. The event was organised by the Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD), a Bhubaneswar-based civil society organisation to mark its 41^st Foundation Day.

He urged the youths to be the agents of change focusing on human centric globalisation to materialise India’s concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (whole world is one family). Eulogising the rich knowledge of tribals in conservation and life skills, he said, “I wish tribals adopt me. I had my happiest day in life when I had my lunch with Kavery, a tribal girl from a remote village of Koraput district.”

Delivering the Foundation Day lecture on Jana Bhagidari or people’s participation in building a resurgent India, Dr R Balasubramaniam, Member, Capacity Building Commission, said the development planning requires people’s participation to attain sustainability. “It is the people who know what development they need. The State or NGOs should not impose their perspective of development on the communities,” he added.

He underlined the need for participation of grassroots people, NGOs, people’s organisations, civil societies, universities and the state and Central governments for integral development of the society.

CYSD’s mentor and co-founder Jagadananda shared the experience of four decades of journey of CYSD in working with people of the remote tribal pockets. “CYSD played a crucial role in catalysing the Self Help Group movement, materialising the community-based disaster mitigation system, empowering the tribals and women and propagating skill education,” he added.

The Governor inaugurated ‘Banashree’ – a web-based application dedicated to empower livelihood of tribal people so far as Non-Timber Forest Produce is concerned. He also released a book titled, “Stories of Change”, that features manifestation of development in a participatory approach in tribal dominated southern Odisha districts like Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada and Nabarangpur.