SPEECH OF HON'BLE GOVERNOR OF PUNJAB AND ADMINISTRATOR, UT CHANDIGARH, SHRI BANWARILAL PUROHIT ON THE OCCASION OF OPENING CEREMONY OF INDIA SKILLS 2021 REGIONAL COMPETITION NORTH AT CHANDIGARH ON NOVEMBER 15, 2021 AT 11.00 AM

Good morning and a very warm welcome to everyone. It gives me immense pleasure as I inaugurate the India Skills 2021 Regional Competition for the Northern region.

Over the next few days, participants from eight states and union territories ? Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh ? will demonstrate their skills and compete for a place in the India Skills National Competition. The winners of India Skills 2021 National will get an opportunity to represent the country at the World Skills International Competition to be held in Shanghai, China in October 2022.

India Skills is not just a competition, it is a unique platform that allows us to discover young talent from the remotest parts of the country, make skills aspirational and empower the youth. The competition enables showcasing India?s capabilities to the world and facilitates learning of evolving technologies and advancements. The biennial event brings together the youth, governments, industry bodies, communities, institutes, and educators to help prepare the young talent of today for the challenges of tomorrow by giving them a competitive platform where they pit their skills against the best in their sector.

Competitions such as India Skills are significant in more ways than one. In today?s time, the world requires highly skilled people to lead the way to economic recovery following the Covid-19 crisis. India Skills can play a vital role in driving the workforce to hone their skills, become industry relevant and job ready. The Competition intends to provide wings to the aspiring Indian youth willing to stand out and achieve more. India Skills gives the youth adequate exposure to global standard of skilling and enriches the country?s skill ecosystem by adding to the number of valuable resources.

To all participants competing in India Skills, on your shoulders rests the responsibility to utilise this platform to propel your communities, your villages, your towns, your states, and your country to greater heights. The entire country is looking at you and I am sure you will set great examples of perseverance, hard work and determination for countless other youth in the country.

I must also laud the contribution of state governments, industry partners, trainers and educators in supporting young candidates, the likes of whom are present with us here today, and their effort to align skill training to global standards.

The energy and zeal among the contenders of India Skills Competition ? North is very inspiring.

I look forward to a new class of young talented Indians as they seize this opportunity to showcase their skills. You are just few steps away from getting a chance to represent India on a coveted global stage. In this spirit, I urge all participants to give your best and leave a special mark through the competition.

Your passion will inspire many young people to nurture their skills and strive for excellence. Importantly, you will sow the seeds of India Skills Competition in many minds that will in turn aspire for glory and fame at a global level.

I will keenly follow this competition and I am sure that many of you will come out with flying colours at India Skills Nationals and World Skills Competition 2022.

To all participants, I wish you the very best for the competitions. I am sure each one of you will give your best and make your country and your families proud of the achievements.

I am sure this competition will raise the skilling standard in India to bring it on par with the international benchmark.

The time is ripe for India?s demographic dividend to shine and be recognised for the enormous potential it has. Young talent can make India the skill capital of the world. As we go into the later stages of this competition, draws will be tough and the pressure will increase on you to perform even better. Remember, you have already achieved a lot by reaching here, you can only go onward and upward.

All the very best to you!

Thank You

Jai Hind.