All posts by : Y20 India

Srinagar- After being chosen from among fifteen premier institutions of India to hold Y20 consultation, delegates from G20 countries and speakers of national and international repute will be attending the Youth 20 event to be hosted at Kashmir University on 11th of this month.

The varsity has chosen Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction as theme for the event, while four panel discussions on important aspects related to the theme will also be discussed.

Addressing a news conference at Media Education and Research Center (MERC) auditorium hall, Vice-Chancellor Kashmir University, Professor Nilofar Khan said all the necessary arrangements have been finalized in this regard.

She said the youth leaders from G20 countries, national and international level speakers and students from 17 nations including G20 countries as well as others will be participating in the event.

We are expecting 17 delegates from nine foreign countries to participate in the event. Four delegates each are from Russia and Indonesia, while two each are coming from the US and Brazil. One participant each is coming from Turkey, Japan, South Korea, Nigeria and Mexico,” Khan told reporters here ahead of the event scheduled on May 11.

She said the University of Kashmir was chosen from among 15 premier institutions of India to hold the Youth20 consultation under the G20 presidency.

“As part of G20 presidency India assumed in December last, Kashmir University is holding a Y20 event on the theme ‘Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reeducation: Making Sustainability a Way of Life on May 11. Organizing this event is a historical occasion for the varsity under India’s G20 Presidency,” she added.

VC KU said since the event is of national importance, the varsity has placed all necessary logistical and other arrangements very well in advance.

“This engagement and involvement of youth in conversation and dialogue on climate change is one big intervention that India’s G20 presidency has made. This theme was also opted in view of the enormous research work our university has been conducting in the area of climate change,” she said, adding” I am glad to inform all that KU has been awarded the Center of Excellence in Glacial Studies in the Western Himalayas by the Depart of Science and Technology.

She said the research work done by Kashmir University on climate change has been published and acknowledged globally.

“This mega event being held in Kashmir University under the country’s G20 Presidency reflects our deep commitment to further tread the path of academic excellence with great determination and sustained focus,” she said, adding I am confident that this event will further encourage our faculty, research scholars and students to pursue their academic goals with greater vigor.

Source :- https://kashmirobserver.net/2023/05/08/ku-to-host-delegates-from-10-nations-for-y20-meet/

‘Historic moment for University to organise this event under India’s G20 Presidency’

Srinagar, May 8: Ahead of the Y20 Consultation at Kashmir University (KU), Vice-Chancellor of the Varsity, Prof Nilofer Khan, on Monday said that the upcoming event on climate change on May 11 is a historical occasion of global significance.

Addressing a pre-event press conference in the University, she said it is a great opportunity to showcase youth as active contributors in the fight against climate change.

The Youth20 (Y20) Consultation is being held on the theme “Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability A Way of Life.”

“It is a historical occasion for the University of Kashmir to be organizing this event under India’s G20 Presidency. The University considers it as an event of national and global importance and has put in place all necessary logistical and other arrangements well in advance. Our faculty members, officers, research scholars, and students have been actively involved in making this event a great success,” she said.

During the press conference, the VC thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur, and Chancellor of the University Manoj Sinha for choosing the University of Kashmir for the mega event.

She said that the event is expected to be attended by dignitaries from the Central Government, J&K UT Administration, 17 international delegates, 4 international speakers, 12 national speakers, and 26 national delegates.

“To make the event more inclusive and result-oriented, we have invited participants from universities across the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. We also have the participation of students from the school education department and higher education department,” the VC said, adding that four-panel discussions on important aspects of climate change will be held during the technical deliberations.

Highlighting the importance of the theme, the VC said, “We have chosen this theme deliberately in view of its high importance for the country in general and our youth in particular. Because this engagement and involvement of youth in the conversation and dialogue on climate change is one big intervention that India’s G20 Presidency has made, it is, therefore, an occasion for our youth to come forward and share their ideas on how they can contribute to addressing and mitigating the impacts of climate change.” she added.

She said that these ideas would eventually be taken to the G20 platform and shall contribute to policy/making in its critical areas.

“We have also opted for this theme in view of the enormous research work which our University has been conducting in the area of climate change. The research work done in this University on climate change has been published and acknowledged globally”, she added.

She said that another important reason for choosing this theme is the fact that “we live in the Himalayan region, which is prone to various natural disasters like landslides, flooding, and avalanches. The J&K UT also falls in Seismic Zone-V and is, therefore, vulnerable to earthquakes. The Youth20 Consultation, therefore, offers us an opportunity to deliberate upon these important aspects and see how best our youth can contribute to mitigating the climate change impacts in the region using ‘youth power as a means to achieve this goal,”

Source :- https://www.greaterkashmir.com/srinagar/y20-consultation-at-ku-a-great-opportunity-for-youth-to-share-ideas-vc

Rishikesh, May 4 (PTI) Young delegates from G-20 nations and noted physicians of the country underscored the need to integrate all systems of medicine to offer better treatment to people as they met here for a Y-20 health conclave at AIIMS Thursday.

The two-day ‘Youth-20 consultation summit’ saw health experts discuss various topics, including the use of modern and traditional systems of medicine.

The event was inaugurated by Uttarakhand Minister for Sports Affairs and Youth Welfare Rekha Arya.

KK Talwar, former director of PGMIER, Chandigarh, said, “It is time to adopt an integrative and inclusive approach aimed at amalgamating the strengths of the modern and alternative systems of medicines to offer the best treatment to patients.” Echoing Talwar, BN Gangadhar, former director of NIMHANS, Bengaluru, said blending modern medicine with the traditional forms of medicine and therapy is the way ahead. Swami Dayadipananda Maharaj from an ashram here spoke at length on the healing powers of yoga, describing it as an art of achieving oneness of the body, mind and soul through pranayama, asana and dhyana (meditation).

Japanese delegate H Yamamoto talked about the vital link between one’s health, wellbeing and indoor environment.

“As we spend most of our time indoors such as offices, schools and other enclosed air-conditioned spaces, we must maintain a healthy indoor environment through ventilation, air filtration and humidity control to keep ourselves healthy,” he said.

The Youth-20 (Y20) Consultation brings together young leaders from G20 countries to discuss and debate global challenges.

Y20 is the official youth engagement group for G20 (Group of 20), which encourages youths to evolve as future leaders to raise awareness on global issues, exchange ideas, argue, negotiate and reach a consensus.

Source :- https://theprint.in/india/traditional-healing-practices-must-be-integrated-with-modern-medicine-y20-summit-delegates-in-rishikesh/1555978/

In what is widely interpreted as a major diplomatic achievement for India,  the Youth-20 (Y20)meeting which is part of the over 2000 G20 events being held in the country this year, commenced in the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh on Wednesday.

Even as China is not participating, the gathering and visits of 170 dignitaries, including 100 foreign delegates, sends a strong message to China and Pakistan who opposed such international meetings in the UTs of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh has been in the world news after the Sino-Indian skirmishes of 2020-21 in which firearms were not used but some troops of the two countries suffered fatal casualties for the first time after the 1960s.

The plan of a visit of the delegates to Pangong Lake, close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), has been dropped because of ‘certain logistic reasons but the diplomatic troupes are visiting different centres of heritage and cultural significance in the Leh district on the side-lines of the summit deliberations which include five Working Group conferences.

“Ninety-five foreign guests reached here till last evening. Some more arrived in the morning today. In all, 170 delegates, including officials associated with the event, are participating in the programmes. All arrangements have been completed”, Sheikh Junaid Mehmood, Deputy Inspector General of Police in Ladakh told India Narrative.

During the three-day main event in Leh, discussion and deliberation on various issues like climate, environment, health and wellbeing and sports will be held. This is for the first time, not only after the erstwhile State’s reorganisation and creation of the two UTs in 2019, but also after an international cricket match in Srinagar in 1983, that a major international event is being held in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Following opposition to such G20 schedules in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh, China is not participating. However, most of the people in the two UTs believe that the boycott would only isolate China and boost international trade and tourism across J&K and Ladakh. China is a permanent member of G20 along with the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia and the European Union nations.

Lieutenant Governor, Brig (rtd.) B.D. Mishra, is scheduled to host a dinner for the delegates in the evening on Wednesday ahead of inaugurating the sessions of deliberations at Sindhu Sanskriti Kendra Auditorium at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. The inauguration will be followed by five parallel technical sessions at different hotels in Leh.

Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Youth Services & Sports, Anurag Thakur, LG Mishra, Secretary Youth Affairs Government of India and other senior officials are scheduled to address the concluding session in the evening on Friday, 28 April.

The Y20 meeting in Ladakh, alongside two key events in Srinagar and Jammu, are part of year-long G20 summit meetings after India gained the Presidency of the G20 in December 2022.

Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, Joint Secretary G20 and Saugat Biswas, Divisional Commissioner, Ladakh were among the senior officials who  addressed the media at the Curtain Raiser of Y20 Pre-Summit in Leh on Tuesday.

Nagraj said that this engagement is primarily to deliberate on the issues which concern the youth of the world. “It is a tremendous opportunity for India to have a pre-summit meeting to be hosted in Leh where more than 100 delegates from more than 30 countries are participating,” he said. He added that with participation of youths from all over the world, it was an opportunity to experience Leh and its beautiful culture.

The meeting will bring together leading experts, decision makers, and youth leaders from G20 Countries to discuss and formulate actionable plans on the growth and development of the people. The meeting will focus on the five Y20 themes of Shared Future: Youth in Democracy and Governance ; Future of Work: Industry 4.0, Innovation & 21st Century Skills; Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability a Way of Life; Peace Building and Reconciliation:  Ushering in an era of No War and Health, Wellbeing & Sports: Agenda for Youth, he said.

Meanwhile, as a part of the Y20 programme series, the University of Kashmir on Tuesday organised a conference on “Role of Child Protection in fulfilling Children’s Rights”. Acclaimed subject expert, Dr Ziba Vaghri, a Kashmiri working with a University in Canada, delivered a lecture among other speakers.

In Jammu, a mega event of Y20 series is being conducted on Wednesday at the Convention Centre. This is being organised by IIM Jammu, IIT Jammu and AIIMS Jammu with participation of the country’s top management, science, technology, medicine and policymaking luminaries. Over a dozen sessions of lectures and panel discussions are being held.  It will be among others addressed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

The main G20 event in Jammu and Kashmir, a conference of the Working Group on Tourism, is scheduled to be held at SKICC, Srinagar, on 22-24 May. The delegates are scheduled to visit Dal Lake, Dachigam National Park and Gulmarg on the side-lines of the first international conference being held after abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. An international cricket match was held in Srinagar between India and West Indies in 1983.

The Y-20 pre-summit will bring together leading experts, decision-makers, and youth leaders from G20 Countries to discuss and formulate actionable plans for the growth and development of the people.

The Y-20 pre-summit meeting under G20 hosted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs will begin on Wednesday and more than 100 delegates would attend the meeting from April 26 to April 28, the Ladakh UT official spokesman says. 

It will bring together leading experts, decision-makers, and youth leaders from G20 Countries to discuss and formulate actionable plans for the growth and development of the people.

The focus will be on the five Y20 themes of Shared Future: Youth in Democracy and Governance; Future of Work: Industry 4.0, Innovation & 21st Century Skills; Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability a Way of Life; Peace Building and Reconciliation: Ushering in an era of No War and Health, Wellbeing and Sports: Agenda for Youth.

The Y20 pre-summit will be attended by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur and the Lieutenant Governor of Leh-Ladakh Brig. (Dr.) B.D. Mishra (Retd). The summit will also have parallel deliberations and negotiation sessions on each of the Y-20 themes.

Pakistan-China objections

Early this month, India dismissed Pakistan’s objection to the hosting of a G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and saying these conferences are being organised across the country and it is “natural” to arrange such events in the union territories that are an “integral and inalienable” part of the country.

China had also voiced its opposition to the government of India’s plans to hold G-20 leaders meeting in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the relevant sides should avoid “unilateral moves” that may “complicate” the situation.

“The meetings and events of G20 are being held across India. They are being organised in every region of India and it is very natural to have these meetings in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a media briefing early this month while responding to a question on the stand taken by Pakistan.

Ladakh is all set to host

Briefing the media in Leh, Joint Secretary, G20 Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, says it is a tremendous opportunity for India to have a pre-summit meeting to be hosted in Leh where more than 100 delegates from more than 30 countries are participating.

This year G20 is being organised under India’s presidency on the theme “One Earth One Family One Future”.

“Youth of today are very concerned about their future. There is a heavy emphasis on climate change. Also, there is a lot of focus on health and sports. The youth is participating from all over the world and they have the opportunity to experience Leh and its beautiful culture,” he says.

Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs, Pankaj Kumar Singh says these engagement groups are more about people-to-people participation. “It gives a platform where we invite young leaders who are interested in different thematic areas. This pre-summit is part of the engagement process this year under India’s presidency.”

He says the summit will provide a platform for open discussions, presentations and interactive sessions that will focus on addressing the challenges faced by young people and formulating a roadmap for their development.

 “We have partnered with 14 universities of this country where we have held negotiations where international students and speakers have participated. To extend the reach of Y20 events, the Y20 secretariat has organised Jan Bhagidari events,” Singh says.

Saugat Biswas, Divisional Commissioner, Ladakh says the Leh administration has provided all support to make the engagement meeting a grand success. He says the education department has organised several events, quiz competitions, and discussions to engage youth on themes of climate change and sustainability and a lot of jan bhagidari activities have been organised in schools, and colleges to engage youth.

He says delegates have been provided electric buses. 

Falit Sijariya, representative of Y20 India Secretariat says, Y20 has tried to communicate and collaborate with other youth engagement platforms across the globe and become the collective voice of the global youth. “Because of India’s G20 presidency, what we are trying to achieve is becoming a bridge between the global north and the global south and with the Y20 pre-summit we have been able to have participation from all the different segments to try to fulfil that agenda.”