(A) Formulation of the new National Youth Policy (NYP)
As per the National Youth Policy-2003, definition of youth in India is people in the age group of 13-35. The existing National Youth Policy 2003 has been reviewed and new Youth Policy 2014 has been drafted. Draft Cabinet Note on National Youth Policy, 2013 has been circulated to concerned Ministries/Departments and has been approved by the Cabinet in January, 2014.
(B) Reforms at Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS)
NYKS is an autonomous organisation under the administrative control of Department of Youth Affairs. It channelizes the power of youth who are in the age group of 13-35 years on the principles of voluntarism, self-help and community participation. NYKS is providing rural youth avenues to take part in the process of nation building as well as providing opportunities for the development of their personality and skills. With a presence throughout the country through its 623 District Kendras, NYKS reaches out to more than eight million non-resident rural youth enrolled through over 280,000 villages based youth clubs.
An online module for registration of youth clubs has been launched aiding in the extension of NYKS to urban areas. Furthermore, issues of entry of different sections of society have been ironed out which would help to get many more youth clubs engaged with NYKS. In order to strengthen the organisation, role and responsibilities of ZDs, DDs, DYCs and NYCs have been defined and performance indicators have been developed for efficacy of deliverables.
Also greater usage of information technology will help in improving performance such as the use of the accounting software Tally. NYKS has taken a number of steps to increase its linkages with other ministries and projects with the MoRT and the Labour Ministry are already under implementation. A new citizen facing NYKS website has been launched and a larger re-branding exercise for the organisation is being implemented which includes a refreshed logo and slogan memorabilia etc.
A quarterly newsletter called Sandesh has been published which chronicles success stories from around the NYKS national network. Various social media channels are being looked at to promote NYKS and plans for the same have been put in motion.
(C) Extension of the National Service Scheme (NSS)
National Service Scheme (NSS) which aims developing character and personality of youth in schools and colleges through community service. There are currently over 3.2 million youth engaged with NSS across India and efforts are being made to substantially increase the reach of NSS. Some of the activities in NSS include improvement of campuses, tree plantation, constructive work in adopted villages and slums, work in welfare institutions, blood donation, adult and non-formal education, health, nutrition, family welfare, AIDS awareness campaign, etc.
Over the past year, 23409 villages/slums were adopted by the NSS units for implementation of various developmental activities including planting of 7,40,245 saplings, donating 72,034 units of blood and administering polio drops to 1161295 children. Also NSS played a vital role in relief and rescue operations by lending sympathetic and moral support to the victims of Uttrakhand natural disaster.
A pilot programme with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) is being implemented in 9 universities covering 30000 students to re-energize NSS by providing higher jobs related skill trainings. To bring more students to the fold of NSS, 1072 self-financing units have been established in private educational institutions. Plans are being drawn up for potential integration of NSS and NYKS in order to leverage strengths of both these organisations. Furthermore, roadmap for adoption of IT in NSS is being implemented with specific focus on performance reporting and database management.
(D) Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD)
Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD), the only National Institute for youth, established by the Government is situated in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu and has been converted into an Institute of National Importance by the Act of Parliament (No.35/2012) and notified on 19/11/2012. RGNIYD plays an important role in training, providing skill academic programmes and research on youth related issues and also plays a key role in operationalising the youth policy.
Cabinet approval for Rs.514 crores has been received and many changes are underway at the Institute including completion of search process for the Director of the Institute, finalisation of recruitment rules and constituting the Executive and Academic Council.
(E) International Cooperation
To create an international perspective in the youth and to involve them in promoting peace and understanding, the International Exchange of Youth Delegations have been conceived as an effective instrument of youth exchange. The exchange of youth delegations with friendly countries is taken up on a reciprocal basis for promoting exchange of ideas, values and culture amongst the youth of different countries and also to develop international understanding. Under this programme, the following major exchange of youth delegations and international training programmes were organised:-
1. A 100-member Indian youth delegation headed by Secretary (Youth Affairs) from 12-17 May, 2013 and by Joint Secretary (Youth Affairs) from 18-21 May, 2013, visited China from 12-21 May, 2013.
2. A 20-member Indian youth delegation visited South Korea from 7-16 August,2013.Reciprocally, a 20-member Korean youth delegation visited India from 27th September to 6th October, 2013.
3. A 100-member Bangladeshi youth delegation visited India from 21-28 October, 2013.
4. A 100-member Chinese youth delegation visited India from 7-14 November, 2013.
(F) National Programme for Youth and Adolescent Development (NPYAD)
National Youth Awards, instituted in the year 1985 are conferred on youth each year who have demonstrably excelled in youth work in different fields of youth developmental activities and social service. The selected youth are expected to possess leadership qualities and use them in successfully carrying out voluntary activities in the field of Youth Development. This award is a source of encouragement to the awardees, as well as an example and catalyst to others in future.
This year for the first time the awards were conferred by H.E. the President of India on 4th July, 2013 at Rashtrapatai Bhawan to 27 individuals and one organisation. The award carried a pure silver medal, a certificate and a cash prize of Rs.40,000/- in case of individual awardee and Rs. 2.00 lakh for voluntary organisation.
Furthermore, the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards (TNNAA) are given away by the President of India along with Arjuna Awards, in a function held at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 29th August every year. TNNAA for the year 2012 were conferred on Shri Basanta Singh Roy and Major Ranveer Singh Jamwal in Land Adventure, Lt. Cdr. Abilash Tomy in Water Adventure, Naib Subedar Parmjit Singh Sidhu in Air Adventure, Shri Prem Singh and Shri Hiram Ram for Life Time Achievement by H.E. Hon’ble President of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 30/08/2013.
(G) Youth Hostel
Under Youth Hostel Scheme, two Youth Hostels namely Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh and Churachandpur in Manipur have been completed during the year 2012-13. Three Youth Hostels (Kurukshetra, Panchkula and Gurgaon) located in the State of Haryana have been identified for running under PPP/franchising mode and advice/suggestion of Planning Commission has been sought on the issue.
Three Youth Hostels situated at Dalhouse (Himachal Pradesh), Jodhpur (Rajasthan) & Mysore (Karnataka) have got the ISO 9001:2008 Certification and one more Youth Hostel at Puducherry is expected to get the Certification shortly.
