{Article} Polity: Achievement of Youth Affairs & Sports Ministry in 2012

Introduction: The total youth population (10 to 35 years) as per 2011 census is 563 million with about 70 percent living in the rural areas. The main focus of the Ministry is on developing qualities of good citizenship and community service amongst the youth and inculcating in them the spirit of volunteerism.
National Youth Policy, 2012: Recognizing that the National Youth Policy 2003 needs to be dynamic so as to cater to the ever changing scenario in the country, a review was initiated. This Exposure Draft National Youth Policy – 2012 envisages to put in place a comprehensive strategy to ensure the fullest development and realization of the potential of the youth, in the context of future socio-economic growth.
NEHRU YUVA KENDRA SANGATHAN: The Ministry has been working towards inculcating in the youth an enhanced sense of volunteerism, community service, personality development and good citizenship. Nehru Yuva Kendras were established in the year 1972 with the objective of 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. In the year 1987-88, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) was converted into as an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. NYKS is the largest grassroots level voluntary organization, one of its kind in the world. Highlights and Achievements of NYKS: [1.] Skill Up-gradation training programme for women; [2.] Silver Jubilee of NYKS and Quami Ekta Diwas on 19^thNovember, 2012; [3.] Awareness and Education for the Prevention of Drug Abuse & Alcoholism in the States of Punjab and Manipur; [4.] 70 Skill Up-gradation Training Programmes for Women in the State J&K; [5.] Skill Development of Volunteers through Tata Motors.
NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME (NSS): It aimed to provide youth an opportunity to work with the people in the villages and slum dwellers. The scheme seeks to achieve its objectives through twin approach i.e. “Campus to Community” and “College to Village”. National Service Scheme was launched during the birth centenary celebration of Mahatma Gandhi on 24th September 1969 with 40,000 students. Today, NSS has more than 3.2. million student volunteers on its roll spread over 299 Universities. In 1993-94, during the Silver Jubilee year of NSS, the Indira Gandhi National Service Scheme Awards (IGNSSA) were instituted to give recognition to selfless service rendered by the NSS volunteers.
A new initiative “Youth to the Edge” was launched with the flagging off of three batches for 3 adventure trails at Tinsukia on 28^th February 2012. The adventure training of the batches commenced at Roing, Hayuliang and Dzuko Valley in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland respectively.
National Programme for Youth Adolescent Development (NPYAD): Under the Scheme financial assistance is provided to various Government/Non Government Organization for youth development activities i.e. (i) Promotion of National Integration (ii) Promotion of Adventure. (iii) Youth Leadership and Personality Development Training; (iv) Development and Empowerment of Adolescent and (v) Technical and Resource Development.
17^th National Youth Festival was organized at Mangalore, Karnataka, during 12^th to 16^th January, 2012 to commemorate the Birth Anniversary of the Greatest Youth ICON of the country Swami Vivekanand.
The Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development [RGNIYD] was started in 1993 at Sriperumbudur (TN), the place of his martyrdom. RGNIYD is an apex research and training institute dedicated to Youth Development in the country. A Flagship Post Graduate Programme in M A Youth Development with specializations is proposed to be introduced in the next year. Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development has been declared as an Institute of National Importance and, to this effect, the RGNIYD Act has been notified to commence w.e.f. 19.11.2012.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION (IC): Under this programme, Exchange of Youth Delegations with friendly countries is taken up on reciprocal basis for promoting exchange of ideas, values, culture amongst the Youth of different countries. The following major Youth Exchanges were organized during the current year: [1.] A 500-member Chinese Youth Delegation visited India in February. The delegation was divided in six groups and visited different parts of the country and interacted with various youth Organizations; [2.] Under the Indo-Korean Youth Exchange Programme, a 20 member Korean Youth Delegation visited India in June; [3.] Indian Youth Delegation visited Korea in August; [4.] Visit of 20-member Indian Youth Delegation visited to Baku, Azerbaijan in June to participate in the First International Youth Congress and Festival “Great Silk Way”; [5.] Under the Indo- China Youth Exchange Programme, a 100 member Indian Youth Delegation visited China in July; [6.] Chinese Youth Delegation again visited India in November; [7.] Under the Indo-Bangladesh Youth Exchange Programme, a 100 member Bangladeshi Youth Delegation visited India in October.
Youth Hostels are built to promote youth travel and to enable the young people experience the rich cultural heritage of the country. The construction of the Youth hostels is a joint venture of the Central and State Governments. So far 80 Youth Hostels have been constructed across the country.