Youth will take country to great heights in 21st century: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the country's youth were its great strength and that they were the ones who would take India to great heights in the 21st century.

He was addressing the gathering at the valedictory of the silver jubilee of the Ramakrishna Vivekananda Ashram here, through video-conferencing from New Delhi.

During his 40-minute address, the prime minister recalled his visit to the city three years ago to seek the blessings of Siddaganga seer Shivakumara Swami.

Likening the youth to God, Modi said 65% of the country's population was aged below 35 years and that this segment of the population should work towards excelling personally and for the country's uplift.

He called upon the people to inculcate Swami Vivekananda's teachings in their lives and to be proud of the country's culture and heritage.

The prime minister said his government had spent Rs 4.5 lakh crore for the betterment of the country's youth. Modi said the loans taken under the Mudra scheme were being repaid at great pace and that more than 70% of those availing the facility were women.

Modi called for innovations in the education system and that the Atal Innovation Mission would help achieve that.