The CYP Asia Region Workshop on Youth and Local Self-Governance

The Commonwealth Asia Region Workshop on Youth and Local Self-Governance commenced today at 10 am at the CYP Asia Centre, located in Sector 12, Chandigarh. Mrs. Meenankshi Datta Ghosh, Secretary to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj Government of India, inaugurated the workshop with traditional lighting of the lamp followed by welcome song by the Students from the Govt. Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 23, Chandigarh. Youth leaders and government officials involved in the field of local governance from Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka participants at the workshop. The function was attended by university academicians, government officials, youth functionaries from NGOs as well as civil societies and youth volunteers.

Mr. Raj K. Mishra, Regional Director, CYP Asia Centre delivered the welcome address and informed the gathering that the CYP Asia Centre has been designated to be the Centre of Excellence for youth empowerment and local self governance by the Commonwealth Youth Ministers' meeting held Bahamas in May 2006. In fulfilling this role the Centre has organized the regional workshop in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Panchayati Raj, Government of India to initiate the evolutionary role of youth in local self-governance and to learn from regional best practices.

Dr. Fatiha Serour, Director and Head of Youth Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat, London addressed the congregation and spoke of the pivotal role of youth in the field of governance at the grassroots as well as at the policy level. In order to enable them to play an effective role in the local governance the young people need to be nurtured and guided as regards the mechanics of youth empowerment and provided with skills and competencies in this respect.

Mrs. Meenakshi Datta Ghosh, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Govt. of India; in her Inaugural address threw light on the importance of Local Self-Governance in the form of Panchayati Raj Institutions and the role of young people for socio-economic development of nations. She related few examples of good self-governance in China and Thailand, which has been found useful and implemented in some of the Indian states.

Ms. Saraswathy Rajagopal, Programme Manager Youth Development, CYP Asia Centre; delivered the vote of thanks to all stakeholders who had contributed towards the successful implementation of the workshop. This was followed by the national anthem of India.

The five-day workshop facilitated by prominent resource in this field will end on 20th April 2007.