THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Jamshedpur, July 29: The 6th Kalam International Youth Leadership Conference held in Kolkata on 27-28 July 2024 celebrated the achievements of exceptional youth from around the globe. The conference, which drew participants from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and other countries, was a tribute to the vision of India’s 11th President and Missile Man, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
This year’s conference, held at the Swami Vivekananda Auditorium, culminated in the awarding of the prestigious International Dr. Kalam Youth Ratna Award 2024 to two distinguished individuals: Tarun Kumar, founder of the Nishchay Foundation, and mountaineer Alok Kumar, both hailing from Jharkhand. The award recognizes their exemplary contributions to society, inspired by Dr. Kalam’s principles and vision.
Tarun honoured for social work
Tarun Kumar, honoured for his work with the Nishchay Foundation, has made significant strides in addressing basic issues related to education, health, gender equality, environment, and human rights. His efforts focus on uplifting and integrating children and communities in remote areas into the mainstream. During the award ceremony, Kumar emphasized the importance of ground-level work combined with emotional sensitivity to effect meaningful change.
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Alok honoured for promoting sports among children
Mountaineer Alok Kumar was also recognized for his efforts in promoting physical education and sports among children. Kumar advocates for the inclusion of self-defence, proper nutrition, and training within school curricula to foster athletic development from an early age.
Platform for young leaders
The two-day conference provided a platform for young leaders to share their impactful work across various fields such as education, technology, child development, and environmental conservation.
The event concluded with an educational tour of the Victoria Memorial, where participants learned about the historical significance of the landmark through detailed explanations of its sculptures and paintings.
Prominent figures at the conference included Padma Shri Niranjan Goswami, Munna Kumar of Khwab Foundation, actor Rajan Kumar, who performed as Charlie Chaplin, senior social worker Archana Bhattacharya, and Intiza Kareem from Sri Lanka. Their presence highlighted the global significance of the conference and the shared commitment to advancing youth leadership and development.
