Nation-building refers to the process of engaging all the citizens in the

development of the nation. The future, as well as the present of our country, is in
the hands of young people. They play an important role in the progress of the
nation as they constitute the majority of the total population. Their efforts can help
in rapid growth. They are the building blocks in the economic and social
development.

Every citizen of our country plays an essential role in its progress. If young people
seriously start working for the development of the nation, they can become
important elements and can contribute immensely in its prosperity.

Youth is not only the partner of today but also the leader of tomorrow. Youth is
full of energy and enthusiasm to learn, act and achieve. They are the social actors
who can perform to bring revolutionary changes and improvement in society. The
participation of youth must achieve any kind of future goals of prosperity,
progress, peace, and safety.

Therefore, we need to utilize the power of our youths for the progress of our
nation. We must make the most of their undying energy, innovative ideas, and
unique perspectives. Youth is surely the most prized possession of the nation and
the sooner we realize and utilize their full potential and power the faster our nation
will progress and develop.

There is growing recognition of the capacity and talents of women and women’s
leadership. Over the last decade, the rate of women’s representation in national
parliaments globally has incredibly increased from 15 percent in 2002 to 19.8
percent in 2012.

The full and equitable participation of women in public life is essential to building
and sustaining strong, vibrant democracies. Accordingly, the meaningful
participation of women in national, local and community leadership roles has
become an important focus of global development policy. Still, some may ask
WHY it matters if women become political leaders, elected policymakers or civil
society activists. WHY does the world need more women involved in all aspects of
the political process? Women’s political participation results in tangible gains for
democracy, including greater responsiveness to citizen needs, increased
cooperation across party and ethnic lines, and more sustainable peace.

Women’s participation in politics helps advance gender equality and affects both
the range of policy issues that get considered and the types of solutions that are
proposed. Research indicates that whether a legislator is male or female has a
distinct impact on their policy priorities, making it critical that women are present
in politics to represent the concerns of women and other marginalized voters and
help improve the responsiveness of policy making and governance. There is strong
evidence that as more women are elected to office, there is also an increase in
policy making that emphasizes quality of life and reflects the priorities of families,
women, and ethnic and racial minorities. Women’s political participation has
profound positive and democratic impacts on communities, legislatures, political
parties, and citizen’s lives, and helps democracy deliver.

At the very outset, I would like to express my happiness to be a part of the Youth
Day celebrations.

Conceptually, ‘Youth’ are a group with diverse possibilities but they remain
vulnerable. Youth are vulnerable, because they can be manipulated, brainwashed
and led astray. If the young are indoctrinated with hatred and the cult of violence,
then they can become a burden on the society. On the other hand, if they stand for
peace and progress, their enormous energy can produce miracles. Youth energy
therefore needs channeling in the right direction. Youth groups may be academic,
religious, political, sports-based, cultural, professional and many others. The goal
should always be to create responsible and conscientious individuals who will
build on the foundation of their rich past to develop a meaningful vision for the
future. They should be the harbingers of a better social order building bridges
between communities and cultures across the countries. Ultimately our country’s
development will depend to a large extent on how the youth shape up and what
they contribute towards the society.

On behalf of young people, I exhort you to “Stand up, be bold, be strong. Take the
whole responsibility on your own shoulders, and know that you are the creator of
your own destiny”. For in you lies the future of the country and the world at large.

What skills do you need in public speaking?

1. Organize ideas logically –
2. Employ quotations, facts, and statistics – Don’t include these for the sake of including them, but do
use them appropriately to complement your ideas.
3. Tell a story – Everyone loves a story. Points wrapped up in a story are more memorable, too!
4. Incorporate humour –It helps make your speech less boring
5. Vary vocal pace, tone, and volume – A monotone voice is like fingernails on the chalkboard.
6. Punctuate words with gestures – Gestures should complement your words in harmony. Tell them
how big the fish was, and show them with your arms.
7. Analyze your audience – Deliver the message they want (or need) to hear.
8. Connect with the audience – Eye contact is only the first step. Aim to have the audience conclude
“This speaker is just like me!” The sooner, the better.
9. Interact with the audience –
10. Conduct a Q&A session –
11. Project confidence– These qualities are sometimes difficult for a speaker to attain, but easy for an
audience to sense.
12. Handle unexpected issues smoothly – Maybe the lights will go out. Maybe the projector is dead.
Have a plan to handle every situation.
13. Be coherent when speaking off the cuff –
14. Seek and utilize feedback – Understand that no presentation or presenter (yes, even you!) is perfect.
Aim for continuous improvement, Three objectives of public speaking:

1. Inform: to share information, ideas and opinion. Its more about ”what?"
question.
2. Educate: to make others learn about the issue. Its more about "how?"
question.
3. Motivate: to inspire others to act or behave on the issue. Its more about
"why?” question.