Higher Education Minister Roji M. John has urged youngsters not to remain job seekers, but to strive to become employment providers.

The Minister stressed that it is essential to create conditions in which more industries and business ventures can grow so that more employment opportunities are generated.

He was speaking at a meeting in connection with the grand finale of the All-Kerala elocution competition, organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Monday (September 28).

The meeting was presided over by Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Rajkumar Gupta. Kochi MLA Muhammed Shiyas, Chamber Past president Akshay Agarwal and Chamber vice president Chirag J. Shah also spoke.

In the inter-college competition, Riga Rose Babu, Aravind R. Chandran and Gerard John secured the first, second and third places, respectively.

The Minister also presented awards to Gopika Ganesh and Susan Davis, the winners of the K.R. Mehta Memorial inter-college essay writing competition. The M.K. Mehta Ever-Rolling Shield for the school which achieved outstanding result in SSLC exam was presented to St. Mary’s Anglo-Indian Girls High School, Fort Kochi.