CHAPTER VI YOUTH SERVICES
The Youth Services Bureau of the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare have been implementing systematically programmes catering to the need and development of the student and non-student youth. The National Youth Board was reconstituted during the year. The Board which has undertaken a critical review of the programmes for the welfare of student and non-student youth will advise the government on the formulation of a National Youth Policy.
National Service Scheme During the year 1978-79, the National Service Scheme was continued in colleges and universities with the same objective with emphasis on bringing the students closer to the community and to enable them to contribute towards national development. The response to NSS programme continues to be encouraging and it is now in operation in all the States and universities. The coverage is likely to reach the figure of 4 lakh students at the end of current year. A Review Group was set up to review the Scheme The Review Group was of the view that the performance under the Scheme was good and it was desirable to strengthen the programme and expand it further. The Review Group while reiterating the objectives of the NSS viz inculcating a sense of social consciousness and dignity of labour amongst the students and developing their personality, also emphasised that this Scheme should provide them an opportunity to discharge their social obligation towards the community.
The NSS students did commendable work in the wake of floods in different parts of the country. Their contribution to flood relief in Delhi, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh was acclaimed by the press and public alike. During the year under report, NSS personnel-teachers, students as well as the supervisory staff-gave high priority to the involvement of students in National Adult Education Programme. In this effort the NSS personnel are working closely with those
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responsible for organisation of various activities under National Adult Education Programme.
National Service Volunteer Scheme The National Service Volunteer Scheme which was started in 1977- 78 continued in its second year with about 450 volunteers who have been deployed with 130 Nehru Yuvak Kendras and over 30 volunteer agencies. The volunteers are working mainly in the field of adult education with these agencies. While the voluntary agencies have the discretion in deploying them in any activity of adult education, a uniform pattern of work has been evolved for the volunteers deployed with the Nehru Yuvak Kendras. Each volunteer is expected to set up 15 to 20 Chetna Sanghs. A Chetna Sangh is a method of organising youth between the age-group of 15 to 35 for activities like adult education, sports and recreation, cultural activities, adventure programmes etc. It is intended to be an instrument for organised action for development. Each Chetna Sangh has an organiser who is given an honorarium of Rs. 50 per month. The work of the organisers is supervised by the National Service Volunteer who is paid a stipend of Rs. 175 per month. The volunteers, before taking the work in the field, are given one month's intensive training.
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 the consciousness regarding planned development of the country among the educated youth and through them among the general public. The Planning Forums numbering about 1000, organise various programmes like seminars, debates, discussions, plan information centres about planning process and development. It has been decided that from 1979-80, the implementation of the Scheme be taken over by the University Grants Commission.
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 had been functioning in universities and affiliated
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colleges. The implementation of this Scheme has been taken over by the University Grants Commission from 1978-79.
Nehru Yuvak Kendras The scheme of Nehru Yuvak Kendra was continued in 1978-79 with the same objective of organising Non-student Youth in constructive activities. Out of 255 sanctioned Kendras, over 185 Kendras have become operational and are functioning in all the states. The scheme continues to be fully financed by the Central Government.
In the current year, a one-week seminar in the context of National Adult Education Programme for the Youth Coordinators for the Southern States at Hyderabad; and a one-week Refresher Training Course at Udaipur were organised. A one month Orientation Training Programme is proposed to be organised in March 1979 at Udaipur.
The Scheme of Nehru Yuvak Kendras was reviewed by a Review Group which had representatives from State Governments, Voluntary Organisations, Planning Commission and Youth Coordinators. The Group was of the view, that on the basis of 5 years' experience of the implementation of the scheme, there has been ample evidence to show that Nehru Yuvak Kendras are characterised by vitality and inventiveness and the autonomy of the Kendras should be continued to be maintained. The Group however felt that there is need for greater conceptual clarity for evolving a system. It also felt that more emphasis for the involvement of women and youth belonging to the weaker sections of the, society in the activities of the Nehru Yuvak Kendras should be given. All the activities of the Nehru Yuvak Kendras-Adult education, vocational training, social service, sports and physical activities, cultural programmes etc. should be taken up in an integrated manner to create awareness amongst the youth and to develop leadership amongst this section of the youth. The Government has accepted the recommendations of the Review Group. It has been decided that during the current plan period the scheme would continue to be a Central Scheme. However, after the expiry of this plan period, the scheme may be transferred to the State Governments.
Financial Assistance to Voluntary Organisations working in the
field of Youth This scheme has been evolved to provide a frame-work for Voluntary Organisations to involve youth for developmental
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activities specially in the rural areas. It is designed to promote involvement of youth on a full time basis for undertaking programmes of rural development, educational developmental activities in urban slums, promotion of plastic, graphic and folk arts, and mass media. This scheme aims at larger involvement of voluntary agencies in the implementation of youth programmes viz. to impart training in skills to non-student youth with a view to improving their functional capacities for full time employment, self-employment or subsidiary employment. It is also designed for training of young persons who can act as catalysts to bring out social chance Registered Societies, public trusts and nonprofit companies are eligible for assistance under the scheme. This scheme was revised in 1978 incorporating essential features of the scheme of establishment of work centres which has been discontinued from 1978-79. The scheme of Youth Leadership Training Programmes has also been merged with this scheme. About 30 organisations have been extended assistance totalling about Rs. 11 lakhs up to the end of December 1978, under the scheme.
Commonwealth Youth Programme India continued to participate in this programme and made the annual contribution to the Commonwealth Youth Programme of Rs. 5.00 lakhs-50% in foreign exchange and 50 per cent in Indian currency. The Youth Development Centre, with an Indian Director, continued to organise basic training for the youth of Asia-South Pacific region.
Scouting and Guiding Central continued to participate in this programme and made the shape of organisational and administrative grants and grant-in-aid for training camps, rallies, jumborees etc. conducted by the Bharat Scouts and Guides and All India Boy Scouts Association. Scouting and Guiding, which is an international movement, is aimed at developing the character of boys and girls to make them food citizens by inculcating in them a spirit of loyalty, patriotism and thoughtfulness for others. Scouting and Guiding also promotes balanced physical and mental development of boys and girls. Social service and community welfare work is an important aspect of this movement.
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Programmes for Promotion of National Integration A Review Group was appointed to study the various aspects for promotion of National Integration. On the basis of the deliberations of this Group the Scheme for Programmes for Promotion of National Integration has been formulated.
The Scheme of Programmes for Promotion of National Integration has two basic aims : (i) to facilitate visit of youth living and working in the border states to states with marked cultural difference and an exchange visit by youth of those states to the border states in order to promote greater understanding of historical and cultural heritage of the country, of the problems being faced by the people of different regions and of the environment, social customs etc. in different parts of the country, (ii) the scheme also provides for financial assistance to voluntary agencies which are engaged in creation of public opinion, against forces promoting disintegration, and organisation of social groups for action to serve the objective of national integration through camps, seminars, research and publication, cultural activities, exchange programmes etc. Under this scheme, teachers, students and non-student youth who are members of voluntary agencies, members of peasants and workers organisations, recognised educational institutions, registered voluntary organisations, Nehru Yuvak Kendras and State Governments/Union Territory Administrations are eligible for provision of financial assistance. Up to the end of December 1978, assistance totalling about Rs. 1 lakh was sanctioned to 10 organisations under this programme.
Scheme for Promotion of Adventure The scheme of Promotion of Adventure aims at encouraging the spirit of adventure, risk-taking, cooperative team work, capacity of ready and vital response to challenging situations and endurance amongst the youth of the country. In this process it is expected that youth would become familiar with the rich heritage of flora and fauna of the country and develop well-balanced personality and character. This Scheme was reviewed by a Review Group appointed by the Ministry and has been revised in the current year. Under this Scheme financial assistance is given for undertaking programmes such as mountaineering, trekking hiking, exploration for collection of data, study of flora and fauna in the mountain, forest desert and sea with emphasis on conservation, canoeing, coastal sailing, raft expeditions, swimming, skiing, cycling, motorcycling, ice skating etc. Assistance is provided for training in the above activities as well
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as for establishment and development of institutions, camp sites and base camps to facilitate adventure activities. Under this scheme individuals, mountaineering institutes, educational institutions, registered voluntary organisations, Nehru Yuvak Kendras and State Governments/Union Territory Administrations are eligible to get assistance. In addition, financial assistance is given regularly to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling. Up to the end of December 1978, assistance totalling Rs. 9.00 lakhs was sanctioned to about 75 institutions/groups under this scheme.