MP to observe 2027 as Year of Youth, launch digital content awards: CM

Indore, Jul 11 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday announced that 2027 would be observed as the 'Year of Youth', with a special campaign to involve more than two crore young people in the state's development and policymaking process. He also announced the institution of 'Digital Content Awards' to recognise young creators producing positive and socially relevant content on digital platforms. Addressing reporters on the sidelines of the 'My Youth, My Pride' conclave here, Yadav said the state government would seek suggestions from young people on governance, development priorities and ways to improve government schemes. "We are going to celebrate 2027 as the Year of Youth. We want to know from our young people what direction the state should take, how they wish to participate in development and how government schemes can be improved," he said. Yadav said the year-long initiative would include interactions with youth from sectors such as tourism, agriculture, healthcare, startups, innovation, skill development and employment to incorporate their suggestions into policymaking. He said the state's startup and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector had expanded rapidly, with more than 25 lakh MSME units providing employment to over 1.43 crore people. The CM said Madhya Pradesh has more than 8,000 startups, nearly half of them led by women. He said the Chief Minister Udyam Kranti Yojana had provided loans worth Rs 1,621 crore and subsidies of Rs 136 crore to 23,590 young entrepreneurs, while more than eight lakh youths had been linked to the 'Seekho Kamao' scheme. Interacting with digital content creators and social media influencers, Yadav said young creators were emerging as powerful agents of social change through positive thinking, innovation and public engagement. "Today's youth are not merely creating content, but shaping ideas, connecting society and giving voice to the aspirations of the new generation. The MP government will institute Digital Content Awards to honour their contribution," the CM said. Digital content creators and social media influencers from western Madhya Pradesh attended the conclave and interacted with Yadav. PTI HWP LAL BNM