New Delhi, September 19 (KNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday distributed more than 51,000 appointment letters to newly appointed youth in various government organisations at the 20th Rozgar Mela, held through video conferencing.

The Rozgar Mela was organised simultaneously at 45 locations across the country, with recruits joining various ministries and departments, including the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Financial Services and Ministry of Defence. With the 20th edition, about 12.75 lakh youth have received appointment letters through the initiative.

Addressing the newly appointed youth, Modi said the occasion brought immense joy to thousands of families and paid tribute to the hard work of the candidates and sacrifices made by their parents. He wished the recruits success as they began their new journey.

The Prime Minister said India's youth have a pivotal role in the country's journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047 and in strengthening the campaigns for a developed and self-reliant India.

He said the talent and skills of Indian youth have earned global confidence, with the world placing high expectations on the country's innovators, entrepreneurs and young people.

Referring to the recently concluded BRICS Summit, Modi said the government's approach was to expand international cooperation beyond traditional government-to-government engagement. He cited initiatives such as BRICS CONNECT and the BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal as efforts to connect entrepreneurs, farmers, women and youth with global partnerships.

On economic diplomacy, Modi said Free Trade Agreements with around 40 countries were opening new markets and partnerships for Indian entrepreneurs while creating fresh career opportunities for youth.

The Prime Minister highlighted the National Education Policy, Skill India Mission, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana and efforts to promote apprenticeships as part of the government's focus on future-ready skills.

He also referred to the PM-SETU scheme, under which 1,000 government Industrial Training Institutes are being modernised with an investment of Rs 60,000 crore and greater industry participation.

Modi said India was currently the world's third-largest startup ecosystem and noted that around half of all recognised startups were now based in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

He said youth from villages, towns and smaller cities were increasingly contributing to India's new economy by developing ideas, building enterprises and creating employment opportunities for others.

On private-sector employment, the Prime Minister highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana, a Rs 1 lakh crore initiative aimed at bringing two crore youth into the formal workforce for the first time.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe scheme provides incentives of up to Rs 15,000 to first-time employees and incentives to employers for creating new jobs.

“The government is working on every front to increase employment in the country,” Modi said.

Linking employment generation with economic growth, Modi said new opportunities emerge when the economy expands, investment rises and industries grow. He referred to India's 7.8 per cent growth rate and a 12 per cent increase in investments in the first quarter, while also pointing to improved economic outlooks from rating agencies amid global uncertainties.

He attributed the growth to reforms undertaken over the past years.

The Prime Minister urged the new government employees to support continued administrative reforms, including simplifying tax compliance, improving ease of doing business, strengthening education and skilling and opening new sectors to innovation.

“It is necessary that the Reform Express in the country runs continuously at full speed,” he said.

Modi also urged the recruits to ensure that their administrative decisions and signatures on files help advance the aspirations of young people by removing hurdles, encouraging ideas and promoting innovation-led investment and employment.

Drawing on their own experiences, he asked the new appointees to ensure that other young people do not face the difficulties they may have encountered before entering government service.

“Your effort should be that the difficulties you have gone through, other youths should not have to go through them,” he said.

Calling for continuous learning, Modi asked the recruits to upgrade their skills and learn new technologies through the Mission Karmayogi framework. He referred to the Karmayogi Prarambh module for new entrants and said 1.7 crore government employees were already on the iGOT platform.

“The more you improve yourself, the better you will be able to serve the citizens of the country,” he said.

The Prime Minister said public trust was the true strength of any government and stressed that the conduct, efficiency, honesty and sensitivity of officials shape citizens' experience with the state.

He said government employees dealing with pensions, scholarships, farmer subsidies and other services directly affect people's everyday lives.

“Your behavior, your sensitivity, your efficiency, your honesty, all this will determine what that citizen's experience with the government is like,” Modi said.

Concluding his address, the Prime Minister urged the new appointees to follow the principle of ‘Nagrik Devo Bhava’, or citizen as divine, and treat public service as national service.

“Your success will be even greater when your work makes a citizen's life easier,” he said. (KNS)