A special action plan will be prepared to deal with the increasing addiction to mobile phones and drugs, unemployment and social challenges.

Vice President Mr. Mishra directed UNDP to prepare employment oriented training project for rural youth.

Raipur, Chhattisgarh: Mr. Ganesh Shankar Mishra, Vice Chairman of the Chhattisgarh State Policy Commission, said that the biggest challenges facing the state today include unemployment among rural youth, mobile phone addiction, growing drug addiction, health problems, and increasing criminal activity. These challenges can only be addressed through job creation and skill development.

Addressing the induction program for SSM PIU and M&E units held at the Chhattisgarh State NITI Aayog in Nava Raipur, Mr. Mishra said that today there are a large number of youth in villages who do not want to join farming, but they also do not have adequate employment opportunities. In such a situation, the state government's goal is to connect youth aged 15 to 29 with skill development programs and provide them with employment and self-employment opportunities.

Vice President G.S. Mishra stated that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)'s largest team to date is working in Chhattisgarh, and a concrete action plan will be developed within the next six months to enhance youth skills and create employment. He directed UNDP experts to develop a comprehensive project to provide training in plumbers, gardeners, carpenters, electricians, TV mechanics, mobile repairers, and other employment-oriented occupations tailored to the needs of rural youth.

Mr. Mishra stated that training programs will not be limited to skills alone, but rather a model will be developed that will provide immediate employment opportunities to youth who complete the training. To this end, special employment programs will be organized in each district in collaboration with industries, private institutions, and civil society organizations, where trained youth will be provided with appointment letters. He stated that the state government's objective is to empower youth and connect them with respectable livelihoods. This will not only reduce the unemployment rate, but also strengthen the economic status of youth, overcome social challenges, and provide new impetus to the state's overall development.

Vice President Shri Mishra expressed confidence that through skill development, participation of industries and effective implementation, Chhattisgarh will emerge as a successful model of youth empowerment in the country.