CHAPTER VI YOUTH SERVICES
Youth programmes can be divided into two categories-
(i) Programmes for student youth
(ii) Programmes for non-student youth.
A. Student Youth Programmes
National Service Scheme The National Service Scheme aims at helping the students for two years of their first degree college studies in utilising their leisure time in various programmes of social service and national development which not only help the community but also provide opportunity to the, undergraduate to understand and appreciate the conditions and problems of the community, and inculcate in him a sense of social consciousness and dignity of labour
The response to NSS has been generally good. The scheme is being implemented in universities and colleges of all the States and Union Territories except Dadra and Nagar Haveli, where there are no colleges. The NSS strength has increased gradually from 40,000 in 1969-70 to over 2.78 lakhs during 1976-77. The target is to cover 3.10 lakhs students during 1977-78 and 4.00 lakh students by the end of 1978-79.
Special Camping Programme As part of the constructive involvement, largely of student youth, during their vacation periods, special camping programmes have been organised under the National Service Scheme in the course of which some aspects of rural need are being covered. In the earlier years, such programmes have been organised under the themes `Youth Against Famine', Youth Against Dirt and Disease and `Youth for Afforestation and Tree, Plantation' etc. Emphasis in NSS from the year 1976-77 is on programmes of rural reconstruction and activities aimed at improvement of conditions of life of economically and socially weaker sections of community. The theme for Special Camping Programme from 1976-77 has been `Youth for Rural Reconstruction'. Some of the
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broad areas and activities which form part of the programme of rural reconstruction under NSS are promotion of Adult Education/Non-Fomal Education Programmes, land Reforms, Planning better environment in the villages, afforestation and tree plantation and family and child care programmes etc. While activities specified above will be undertaken by the NSS students depending on the local needs and priorities the main emphasis under the programmes will be on the promotion of adult education/nonformal education programmes.
During the year 1977-78 the working of the scheme was galvanised so as to have a perceptible impact on the process of development. The National Service Scheme has been introduced at the +2 stage of education in the State of Karnataka and West Bengal. The matter is being pursued with the State Governments of U.P. and Kerala. Based on the experience of NSS at +2 stage in these states, the scheme will be extended to other states gradually. Another important guideline evolved recently is to equip the teacher incharge of NSS in colleges for more effective involvement of students in various programmes under NSS. Besides the Orientation course for fresh Programme Officers, refresher courses for NSS teachers who were already trained have been started. A model syllabus has been prepared for all the training institutions and made available to them. Efforts are being made to identify training institutions in states where they do not exist at present. With a view to provide an opportunity to the key persons responsible for implementation of National Service Scheme at different levels to come together and exchange ideas and experiences on NSS and to discuss the various issues connected with the implementation of the scheme, four orientation courses for about 150 key persons were organised during 1977-78 by the National Staff College for Educational Planners and Administrators in collaboration with the Delhi School of Social Work, Delhi.
The NSS students also did commendable work in the emergency relief work. NSS students were actively involved in flood relief work in the States of Bihar, U.P., Orissa, Punjab, Maharashtra etc. Again the NSS students were also involved in the emergency relief work in the cyclone affected areas in the States of Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu.
National Service Volunteer Scheme The National Service Volunteer Scheme (NSVS) launched with effect from 1977-78 aims at providing opportunities to students who have completed their first degree, to involve themselves
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on a voluntary basis in nation building activities for a specific, period on a wholetime basis. NSVS would provide youth, during the interregnum between their graduating or otherwise concluding their studies and their entering the world of work, avenues for doing creative and constructive work, suiting their educational background and aptitude. To begin with, the NS Volunteers would be engaged in promotion of programmes of adult education, through Nehru Yuvak Kendras and Voluntary agencies for a minimum period of one year. Later, when the scheme is expanded, it is envisaged that NS Volunteers would be engaged in specific programmes of National importance of various deploying agencies to which these volunteers are seconded. The volunteers would be suitably trained before they start work in the field. Each volunteer will be paid a stipend of Rs. 175/- per month plus expenditure involved on travel and contingencies.
A workshop on `Training of Volunteers under NSVS' was organised from 14th to 16th November 1977. Representatives of seven institutions identified for training of NS Volunteers participated in the workshop and finalised the training programme. Orientation training is being imparted to approximately 150 volunteers.
Planning Forums Initiated by the Planning Commission in 1955 and transferred to the Ministry of Education in 1968, the scheme of Planning Forums aims at developing consciousness regarding planned development of the country among the educated youth and through them among the general public.
The scheme was revised in 1976-77 so as to make the Planning Forums more effective. In the revised scheme the financial provisions have been liberalised. The scheme now provided for financial assistance to selected universities and educational institutions for holding seminars and Regional Conferences on various aspects relating to economic development. Ten Universities/ institutions were sanctioned grants totalling Rs. 1,27,500/- for holding such seminars/conferences during 1977-78.
During 1977-78 some of the State Governments/Union Territories initiated action to reactivate such of the Planning Forums
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as had become defunct for want of funds and to set up new Planning Forums in Universities/Colleges where such forums do not exist.
National Integration Samitis The object of the scheme is to familiarise the students and teachers with the diverse perspectives of our composite culture and civilisation and to undertake activities which would eradicate communalism in all its forms and to take such other steps as would directly promote the cause of National Integration. About 130 samitis are at present functioning in universities and affiliated colleges. Some of these samitis, have functioned with considerable success and have taken up meaningful programmes.
The working of the scheme was reviewed by a working group set up by the Ministry of Education. The group which submitted its report in July 1976 made some useful recommendations which have been examined in the Ministry. On the recommendation of the Review Committee the financial provision has been increased. It has been decided that a composite enlarged scheme should be prepared for promotion of national integration.
B. Non-Student Youth Programmes
Nehru Yuvak Kendras To provide the necessary focus for youth activities, recreation and education of non-student youth, the scheme of Nehru Yuvak Kendras was launched on November 14, 1972. The scheme has continued to make progress during the year under report. Of the 235 Kendras sanctioned in various States and Union Territories, about 160 are at present functioning. The number of additional Kendras sanctioned in 1977-78 is 20.
The main activities of the Nehru Yuvak Kendras have been (i) Non- formal education; (ii) vocational training and employment service; (iii) social and community service; (iv) sports and physical culture; and (v) recreation and rejuvenation of the folk media. On an average a provision of Rs. 20,000/- is utilised annually by a Kendra in organising these core programmes. In view of the policy statement on adult education increased emphasis is being laid on adult education. During the current year an additional amount of Rs. 10,000/- each has been sanctioned to all the Kendras mainly for involvement of youth in the massive
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programme of adult education. Each Kendra is also being sanctioned two National Service Volunteers to be utilised for adult education programmes. Each volunteer will be expected to organise 25-35 youth unions for augmenting adult education programmes.
The Kendras have been organising on a continuing basis the core programmes. On an average 50,000 adults are enrolled by the Kendras in their literacy classes and campaigns per month. The vocational training is organised in selected fields viz. tailoring, knitting, embroidery, doll-making, radio-repair, soap making, pump-set repair, tractor-repair, bicycle repair, plastic and caneknitting, carpentry and agricultural training which includes poultry and bee-keeping. About 22,000 youth are trained in these skills on an average per month. In the field of sports, games and physical education, the Nehru Yuvak Kendras have been able to mobilise on an average of 1,10,000 rural youth in their programmes per month. The number of youth mobilised through the cultural activities of the Kendras, particularly folk songs, rural theatre etc. is about 36,000 per month, The Kendras continue to be the major link between the youth and other sections of society through their programmes of social and community service, viz. cleanliness drives, family programmes, repair of roads, levelling of play fields, construction of soakage pits and eradication of social evils such as dowry, casteism, bonded labour etc. On an average nearly 42,000 persons are involved per month in these programmes of the Kendras.
Three refresher courses each of one week duration were organised during September to November, 1977 for those Youth Coordinators of the Nehru Yuvak Kendras. who bad already undergone training in 4-week training-cum-orientation courses last year. A one month orientation- cum-training course was organised for the newly appointed youth coordinators and those who could not undergo training last year, in January, 1978 at the Gandhigram Rural Institute, Gandhigram (Tamil Nadu). The feedback has indicated that the training programmes and the refresher courses are of a great advantage and have generated a sense of new enthusiasm among the youth coordinators for undertaking new and higher responsibilities.
Financial Assistance to Voluntary Organisations The scheme is intended to foster and promote greater involvement of voluntary organisations in youth work and also to enable youth to work on whole-time basis in rural reconstruction
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activities. Voluntary organisations whose members are youth workers and are living and working in rural areas are eligible for assistance on a long-term basis. This assistance is extended to cover reasonable honorarium to youth workers and project expenditure. Voluntary organisations, whose members are not youth workers but are working for the youth are eligible for assistance on a short-term basis for projects like research, surveys, youth camps, training of personnel for youth work, establishment and promotion of youth clubs and youth activity conducive to promotion of national development. So far the projects of 11 youth organisations have been approved and grants amounting to Rs. 2,12,632/-are released.
Training of Youth Leaders The objective of this scheme is to organise training programmes for youth in order to develop awareness amongst them about the existing social realities, their predicament, and to create in them a capability to bring about the needed social changes. It is also intended that the youth should learn to play an effective role in the developmental processes of the country. During the training process, it is intended that certain potential youth leaders may be identified in various walks of life who will. be able to organise youth for various development programmes in the rural areas. This scheme is mainly meant for non-student youth, although student youth may be associated in this programme. Priority is given to youth belonging to socially and culturally deprived sections of the society. The training programme is of a residential nature and the duration of the programme is normally between 7 to 30 days. A number of institutions in the country are imparting training to youth under this scheme. The youth in many cases are being selected by the Coordinators of Nehru Yuvak Kendras. Financial assistance under this scheme is extended to cover board and lodging expenses organisational expenses and travelling expenses. During the current year it is expected that 5000 youth have been trained under this scheme.
Assistance for Promotion of Adventure Programmes The objectives of the scheme are-to encourage the spirit of adventure and risk taking; to develop an understanding of the environment and love for nature; to provide support of educational institutions and Government and non-government institutions engaged in the organisation of adventure programmes and to provide assistance for establishment of training facilities. Finan-
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cial assistance is given for setting up infrastructure facilities as well as for individual programmes which may range from mountaineering, treking, hiking, canoeing, cycling, swimming, row boating, skiing, ice-skating etc. A uniform quantum of assistance for lodging, boarding and contingencies which includes medical aid, minor repairs etc. is given @ Rs. 20 per head per day for undertaking adventure activities.
Financial assistance continued to be extended to Indian Mountaineering Foundation, New Delhi, and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling. 33 Universities/Colleges have been given assistance for mountaineering. Groups and individuals have also been assisted for various adventure, activities.
Scouting and Guiding It is an international movement designed to help develop the character of boys and girls and make, them good citizens by giving them the requisite training. Scouting and guiding is being encouraged by the Government through financial assistance to the Bharat Scouts and Guides and All India Boys Scouts Association for activities like National Integration Camps, Youth Leadership Training Programmes, Jambories and Samagams etc. An amount of approximately 4.00 lakhs was sanctioned during the year to these organisations.
Work Centres The basic objective of the scheme of work centres is to organise programmes having educational and training components through which the youth could acquire training skills with a view to providing them self-employment, full-time employment, subsidiary occupation or improvement of their functional capabilities. tinder the scheme the State Government/Union "Territory Administration can be given financial assistance on 50 : 50 basis subject to a maximum of Rs. 1.00 lakh per project. A Voluntary Organisation taking up this activity can, however, be extended financial assistance upto 75% of the total estimated project cost and in specially deserving cases upto 90%. It has been decided to discontinue this scheme from next year.
Commonwealth Youth Programme India is participating in the Commonwealth Youth Programme. As a part of the programme one of the three Youth Development Centres has been set up in Chandigarh.
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