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National Youth Festival concludes

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Jan. 16. Curtains came down on the five-day long 8th National Youth Festival in the city today with the Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Vikram Verma, urging the youth to stand united for strengthening the bond of national unity.

The valedictory ceremony got off to a colourful start with as many as 11 skydivers under the leadership of Wing Commander Sanjay Thapar of the Indian Air Force coming down to the lawn in the middle of the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium on parachutes bearing Indian tricolour from a height of about 8,000 feet.

As the dignitaries were seated on the dais, ace athlete, P.T. Usha, along with the festival mascot, `Kunju', slowly walked up to the stage amidst thunderous cheers.

Inaugurating the valedictory meeting, Mr.Verma said such festivals were the need of the hour to strengthen the unity of the country at a time when several forces were trying to destabilise it.

Speaking on the occasion, the Speaker, Vakkom Purushothaman, urged the Union Minister to take steps for the implementation of a scheme under which the State or the Union Government could adopt talented artists.

Various cultural programmes by the winners in the competitions were also presented after the programme. Mr. Verma also presented the mementos for the dignitaries on the occasion. He also distributed the prizes for the winners.

Ms. Usha, J. Sasikumar, who had designed the festival mascot, the cine director, Lenin Rajendran, and mentally challenged children were among those who were honoured on the occasion.

The State Youth Affairs Minister, M.A. Kuttappan, the former Youth Affairs Minister, K. Radhakrishnan, the coordinator of the festival, C.V. Anandabose, the Joint Secretary of Sports of the Union Ministery, R.K. Mishra, and V. Muralidharan of the Nehru Yuvak Kendra also spoke on the occasion.

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