Governor Kataria launches Shaheed Bhagat Singh Youth Facilitation Centre in Ludhiana
Babushahi Bureau
Ludhiana (Punjab), August 30, 2026: Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Sunday inaugurated the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Youth Facilitation Centre during the Punjab Youth Town Hall – GenZ Connect at the Dr Manmohan Singh Auditorium, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana.
Organised by Dr Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Rajya Sabha MP and Chairman of Sun Foundation, the youth town hall brought together more than 2,000 young people for discussions on careers, employable skills and entrepreneurship.
The event featured three panel discussions, followed by an open question-and-answer session with Governor Kataria and Dr Sahney. In the morning, the participating youth also listened collectively to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 137th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’.
Dr Sahney said the newly launched Shaheed Bhagat Singh Youth Facilitation Centre would provide 10 youth-focused services under one roof.
These include career counselling and skill mapping, training in artificial intelligence and future-oriented skills, placement assistance, startup incubation, access to loans and government schemes, wellbeing counselling and a public impact dashboard.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Kataria appreciated the initiative and Dr Sahney’s efforts to engage young people.
“I deeply appreciate the way Dr Vikramjit Singh Sahney is connecting with Gen Z and taking the Prime Minister’s message directly to our youth by empowering them through skilling and providing them jobs,” Kataria said.
Sun Foundation’s Skill and Employment Initiatives
Dr Sahney said the Sun Foundation operates a network of skill centres across Punjab, through which 6,560 young people have been trained, while 5,426 have secured employment and 410 have received support for self-employment, according to figures shared at the event.
He also said the Foundation has adopted 12 drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres across Punjab. Around 500 recovering patients are provided skill training every year, with more than 1,000 subsequently placed in jobs and around 250 supported in moving towards self-employment.
The new facilitation centre is intended to create a single point of access for young people seeking career guidance, skills, employment opportunities and support for entrepreneurship.