Jookto organises panel discussion on ‘Youth, Barak & 2019’

January 6: The world today is facing various problems like unemployment, crimes, natural disasters, drugs abuse, inequality, poverty etc with the hardest hit group being young people. With almost half of the world population under the age of 30, it is the power of youth that can transform the burden of population into an asset of human resources. These were the words uttered by Subimal Bhattacharjee, Director Jookto Foundation during a panel discussion  held at Ellora Heritage Hall, Silchar.

The panel discussion entitled “Youth, Barak & 2019” focussed on the aspirations of the youth in Barak Valley and highlighted some of the key areas that would define the future- Education, Skills & Entrepreneurship, Sports and Evolution of the region into an economic and social hub. The panelists were Dr. Salim Barbhuiya, Sayan Biswas, Shantanu Sutradhar and Subimal Bhattacharjee. The moderator of the panel discussion was Prof. Sudarshan Gupta. The welcome address was delivered by Prof. Arjun Choudhuri.

Speaking during the occasion, Sayan Biswas, senior Sports Sub-Editor of Dainik Jugasankha, a leading daily upholded the immense potential of the youth of Barak Valley in the arena of sports. He lamented that inspite of having requisite talent, the youth of this valley are unable to carve a niche for themselves in the national scenario. For this he held the positioning of this valley responsible.

Another speaker, Shantanu Sutradhar, an entrepreneur was a real life experience before the audience who by dint of his will power and positive attitude turned all odds into opportunities. He is into the exports of cane handicrafts to various countries in Europe, Middle East, Australia, Canada apart from supplying in the domestic market. Mr. Sutradhar said that there is ample opportunity in Barak Valley for doing business as the region is rich in natural resources. He said that the youth of the valley needs a proper direction. He stressed on the point that the youth should understand that government jobs are not the only means of acquiring one’s livelihood. He said, “We should dream big to achieve big.”

Dr. Salim Barbhuiya, a son of the soil of this valley who is presently working as a Lecturer in Advanced Concrete Technology in the University of Leeds, United Kingdom said that the key word which could transform the life of the youth is ‘risk’. He said that they need to take risk in life for moving ahead. He, however, said that inspite of having potential, the youth power of this valley was not properly channelised. He held the leaders of this valley responsible for this. Infact. Dr. Salim went a step forward and said that “Barak Valley never had any leader in the truest sense of the term. The so-called leaders over here are more of the nature of manager than leader.”

In his concluding remark, Subimal Bhattacharjee, Director Jookto Foundation stressed on the necessity of young minds coming out of the stereotype concepts of life and career and try to look beyond. Mr. Bhattacharjee too recognised a vacuum existing in the valley where there is none to lead the youth to better strides. The valley indeed has huge potential and possibilities and the only need is to give a proper direction to the multi-coloured dreams and aspirations.

The moderator Sudarshan Gupta, an Associate Professor of History summed up the discussion and said that unless and until efforts are being made to make Barak Valley ‘seen’ in the national perspective, the region cannot hope to develop much. He thanked the organisers for taking keen interests in various aspects of Barak Valley and expressed the belief that such endeavours would definitely provide a guiding light to the youth of Barak to move with an optimism in 2019 and beyond.