World Would Not Get Picasso Had His Parents Decided to Make Him Civil Servant or Engineer,” says VP Dhankhar

GG News Bureau

New Delhi, 13th Aug. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday expressed his disapproval of the parents who are very demanding with their kids and push them to “become civil servants or engineers when the child actually wants to become a musician or photographer.”

Speaking to a group of students from Kerala who called on him at Upa-Rashtrapati Niwas, the Vice President said that “Parents want to live their life through their children. That is not good. There is achievement in every walk of life.”

These students were winners of the Mann Ki Baat Quiz Competition organized by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan in Thiruvananthapuram.

Responding to a question from a student, Dhankhar described drug abuse as a menace to the world. Calling drugs a challenge to humanity, he said that it destroys those minds who have the capacity to take the world to a higher level.

Delving into the factors behind drug abuse, the Vice President said it happens because we are drifting away from our core cultural values and family life.

He also called for generating an ecosystem where one believes in friendship, believes in community life, in family and respects elders.

Praising the government for taking a tough stance on the drug challenge, Dhankhar appealed to the establishment to “be tough with those who deal in drugs & never fear to expose those making money on account of drugs.”

Calling for a positive and healthy approach towards victims of drug abuse, he advocated for counselling and de-addiction centers for victims. “Don’t attach a stigma to a person who has taken drugs once or twice,” he said.

Describing corruption as the greatest enemy of common man, the Vice President said it deprives you of equality of opportunity, impedes nations development. Expressing happiness over the firm stand taken by the government on the issue of corruption, Dhankhar highlighted that “power corridors have been fully sanitized of middlemen.”

Mentioning several people-friendly initiatives such as Har Ghar Jal, Swachh Bharat Mission, digital transfers, the Vice President said, “Inclusivity is at its peak today, and it has transformed our economy & society and empowered every citizen.”

Exhorting students to always keep the nation first, he asked them to effectively counter those trying to taint and tarnish the image of our institutions.

Union Minister V. Muraleedharan was also present at the event.