A webinar on ‘AatmNirbhar Bharat and Youth’ was conducted by Ms. Karuna Gopal, Sr. BJP Leader & President, Foundation for Futuristic Cities where she shared how students have a great role to play in fulfilling the mission of our Prime Minister. Ms. Gopal averred everyone was oblivious and unmindful of how we were by harming the environment; the negative impact of technology on environment; our consumption patterns and what was happening in the labs of Wuhan before COVID-19 hit us. “But we are fortunate that India has seen fewer deaths in this pandemic,” shared Ms. Gopal. She further stated how the under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi, his initiatives have given India an important position in the world and how he has made the country take the path of becoming self-reliant.
Ms. Gopal how India missed the opportunity of the 3rd industrial revolution as the country did not have its indigenous products ready to be a part of it and how the country became a market for these products. “However, we do have a chance of becoming a part of the fourth Industrial revolution with AI, robotics, AR being explored by the country,” said Ms. Gopal. She emphasized on the need for the country to invest on its development of human capital, skills and becoming self-reliant. Sharing with students on how they can contribute to this mission of being ‘AatmNirbhar’, she suggested how India had the demographic promise and should look at making the most of the demographic dividend by becoming skilled. Ms. Gopal also stressed to the students on the need to create a demand within the country to become self-reliant and focus on packaging, positioning, branding and marketing of indigenous products.
A webinar on ‘An Inclusive World’ was conducted by Hollie Murphy, Founder, Heroes of Hope, Non-profit organization for People of Determination. She shared how her early participation in sports made her realize that sports were for everyone. She began volunteering where there were people and children with special needs and began her journey for their welfare. She discovered how sports were integral for these students with special needs to make them communicate with other students and give them access to sports. She further established the Sports Heroes Academy where each special needs athlete is supervised by a volunteer who gives them one-on-one training. “Sports Heroes Academy is a sports initiative helping students of determination reach their full potential with the help of student volunteers,” stated Ms. Murphy.