YOUTH SERVICES
As in the whole developing world, youth in India can play an important
catalytic role in accelerating the process of national development. Owing
to its size and aspirations, its influence and dynamism it is a powerful factor
in setting trends in political, social, economic, educational, cultural and deve-
lopment fields. Their boundless energy and innate idealism could introduce
into the various development activities a direction which could bring out
the social transformation needed to make it suited for their own future.
Involvement of youth is particularly relevant because of the resolve of the
country to progress in. the direction of building up, an egalitarian society,
emphasising not only the economic and. technological development but also
improvements in the quality of common man. Today, the special situation
in which the country is placed provides a larger framework, a more favour-
able climate and- a greater sense of urgency to the matter and offers the
necessary opportunity for a global reconstruction of programmes of youth
involvement and participation for youth welfare and overall promotion. It
is absolutely necessary to provide opportunities to the youths for involve-
ment in programmes and activities which could develop the total personality
of the youth and make them functionally efficient economically productive
and socially useful. Youth programmes in India have been formulated and
are being implemented keeping these considerations in view. The youth
programmes being implemented by the Youth Services Division of the
Ministry are as under
National Service Scheme The National Service Scheme (NSS) aims at involvement of the first
degree students on a voluntary and selective basis, in programmes of social
services and national development. The scheme which was started in 1969
with a coverage of about 40,000 students, now. covers about 5 lakh students.
For the year 1982-83, the enrolment target has been fixed at 5.5 lakhs.
The scheme is being implemented in almost all the States and Union
Territories covering about 3400 colleges. Recently it has been extended,
on an experimental basis, to, cover students at the + 2 stage also, in some
of the States and Union Territories.
In addition to undertaking programmes, like construction and repair of
roads, school buildings, village ponds, tanks, tree plantation, etc., the NSS
students participated in programmes like environmental improvement,
hygiene and sanitation, family welfare, child-care, mass immunisation, voca-
tional training in craft, tailoring, knitting, and organising co-operatives.
The NSS students also rendered assistance to local authorities and communi-
ties in the implementation of various relief and rehabilitation programmes.
As part of the constructive involvement of the students, during their vacation
periods, large-scale camping programmes have been organised in the course
of which some aspects of rural needs of the economically and socially weaker
sections of the community are covered. Nearly half of the enrolled strength
of NSS volunteers took part in the special camping programmes organised
during 1980-81.
This year a new dimension has been added in the NSS programmes
known as "Youth for Eco-development" with a view to creating an aware-
ness among the students about the aims and nature of the ecological
problems mankind is facing today and the measures that are necessary to
restore the ecological balance. Following are some of the activities
pertaining to this programme :-
(i) removal of water hycinth weeds from lakes;
(ii) pre-plantation operation like cleaning, alignment, trench-
fencing, digging pits and manuring;
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(iii) Plantation of trees on hill tops and community places;
(iv) construction of soak pits and compost pits;
(v) construction and laying of parks;
(vi) environmental cleanliness;
(vii) education-creating awareness among students, teachers and
members of the community about the problems of environment.
The idea of involving NSS in the- Programmes of the Central Social
Welfare Board is at present under active consideration. The programmes
such as family welfare, motivational camps, health education Programmes-
door-to-door education and enlightenment of rural women in public coope-
ration. can be implemented in the initial stages by the NSS units of some
selective colleges. Steps have been taken to organise Orientation Courses
for Programme Officers of NSS by Training and Orientation Centres in
co-operation with the Central Social Welfare Board.
For establishing liaison at State and University levels and for co-ordina-
ting programmes of different NSS units, four Zonal Centres and eleven
Regional Centres continued to function during the year.
National Service Volunteer Schemes The National Service Volunteer Scheme which aims at providing oppor-
tunities to students, generally those who have completed their first degree,
to involve themselves, on a whole-time basis for a short period of one or
two years, in programmes of national development, was continued during
the year under review. During the year about 400 volunteers were deployed
mainly through Nehru Yuvak Kendras. Besides programmes of adult educa-
tion, their services are being utilised for carrying out the on-going pro-
grammes of the Nehru Yuvak Kendras, such as establishment of youth clubs,
organisation. of work camps, youth leadership training programmes, voca-
tional training, promotion of rural sports and games, etc. The rate of stipend
of the volunteers has been increased from Rs. 175/- to Rs. 200/- p.m. and
the rate of T.A. from Rs. 25/- to Rs. Rs. 50/- p.m. with effect from June,
1981.
Nehru Yuvak Kendras The main aim of the scheme, as originally visualised, is to enable the
non-student youth, mainly of the rural areas, to act as the vanguard in the,
process of development in the rural areas and popularisation of nationally
accepted objectives such as self-reliance, secularism, socialism, democracy,
national integration and development of scientific temper. In furtherance
of these objectives, the Nehru Yuvak Kendras are expected to organise
activities which, inter alia, include non-formal education, social service camps
like work camps, development of sports activities for massive involvement
of young people, cultural and recreational programmes, vocational training
aiming at self-employment organisation of youth leadership training pro-
grammes and promotion and establishment of youth clubs. Over 6,00,000
non-student rural youths participated in/benefited from these activities.
Efforts have also been made in the past to involve the non-student youths
in programmes and activities which are expected to make them functionally
efficient, economically productive and socially useful to the extent possible.
About 4900 Chetna Sanghs/adult education centres were also established
by the Nehru Yuvak Kandras wherein approximately 1,46,000 rural youths
are expected to have acquired literacy and numeracy skills for self-reliance
learning, availed themselves of opportunities for upgradation of their func-
tional capabilities, and an awareness regarding their present social position
and possibilities of their development. These areas are neither exhaustive,
nor exclusive. As the Kendras work among the youth in the community
around, it is likely that new needs will be expressed for which new pro-
grammes will have to be devised.
With a view to promoting a spirit of national integration among the
non-student rural youth as also to display some aspects of the work done
by Nehru Yuvak Kendras since the inception of the Scheme, a National
Level Cultural Meet cum Exhibition on Nehru Yuvak Kendras was organised
at Delhi from November 14 to 16, 1981. The activities organised in the
Meet included traditional rural folk dances, traditional dress/costume
parade and art and craft exhibition. About 1600 youths drawn from 192
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Nehru Yuvak kendras in the country participated in the meet. This Was
the first and unique venture of its kind for the non-student youth.
At present Nehru Yuvak Kendras are sanctioned in 255 districts in the
country, out of which 192 have already become operational. The remaining
(63 NYKs) are in the process of being made operational. It is expected
that by the end of financial year 1981-82, the number of sanctioned Kendras
would increase to 285. It is proposed to cover all the districts in the, country
by a Nehru Yuvak Kendra each by the end of the Sixth Five Year Plan.
Financial Assistance to This scheme has been evolved to provide support to voluntary agencies
Voluntary Agencies which involve youth for development activities especially in rural areas.
Engaged in Youth Work The scheme also encourages involvement of voluntary agencies in the imple-
tation of youth programmes such as leadership training for self-employment
and establishment of work centres. During 1981-82, 25 voluntary agencies
were assisted under the scheme.
Promotion of Adventure This scheme aims at encouraging the spirit of adventure, risk-taking,
co-operative team-work, capacity of ready and vital response to challenging
situations and endurance among the youth. Financial assistance is provided
under this scheme for activities like mountaineering, treking, hiking, ex-
ploration for collection of data, study of flora and fauna in the mountains,
forests, deserts and sea, canoeing, coastal sailing, raft-exhibitions, swimming,
cycling, etc. Assistance is also provided for training as well as establish-
ment and development of institutions to facilitate such activities. During
1981-82, 75 groups of youths/voluntary agencies were assisted under the
scheme.
Scouting and Guiding Scouting and Guiding, an international movement, aims at developing
the character of boys and girls to make them good citizens by inculcating
in them a spirit of loyalty, patriotism and thoughtfulness for others. It also
promotes balanced physical and mental development and inculcates a desire
for social service. The Ministry of Education and Culture encourage this
activity by assisting Bharat Scouts and Guides and the AR India Boys
Scouts Association in the shape of, organisational and administrative grants
and grants-in-aid for training groups, rallies, jamborees, etc.
Commonwealth Youth India is participating in Commonwealth Youth Programme which is
Programme directed to make the youth participate in development processes of their res-
pective countries and to provide a forum for increasing co-operation and
understanding among the Commonwealth Countries. Under this pro-
gramme, three regional centres for advanced studies in youth
work have been set up in India, Zambia and Guyana. The Asia Pacific
Regional Centre has been set up at Chandigarh for which India as the host
country has provided a building and the basic physical facilities. An annual
contribution of Rs. 6.00 lakhs is being made by the Government of India
for participating in the programme.
International Exchange of This scheme aims at strengthening the channel of communication among
Youth Delegations youth in different countries as well as in promoting international under-
standing and goodwill. During 1981-82, a three-member Soviet Youth
Delegation visited India with a view to studying the youth programmes
being implemented in the country. A two-member delegation from India
is expected to visit the USSR shortly for the same purpose.
Promotion of National This scheme promotes national integration by facilitating visits of youth
Integration living and working in border areas to other states with marked cultural
differences, and an exchange visit by youth of those states to the border
states in order to promote greater understanding of the historical and cul-
tural heritage of the country, of the problems being faced by the people of
different regions and environment, social customs etc. in other parts of the
country. Financial assistance is also given to voluntary agencies engaged
in promoting national integration through camps, seminars etc. Eight
national integration camps were organised during 1981-82. Realising the
need for promoting the spirit of national integration, some new dimensions
have been added to the programme. The scheme has been revised by in-
corporating activities like selection and distribution of inspiring books among
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students, organisation of various competitions and organisation of various
exhibitions, seminars and conferences.
Exibitions on 'Education' and With a view to promoting a spirit of national integration amongst youth
`Culture' of different parts of the country, enabling them to receive education and
knowledge about Indian culture, freedom struggle, pursuit of excellence and
values as also the latest developments taking place in the field of education,
art, culture, agriculture, industry and technology, projecting and giving re-
cognition to the activities and contributions made by young people in various
fields of national development and promoting an increasing national and
international understanding among young people, a new scheme entitled
'Exhibitions on Education and Culture' has been formulated for implemen-
tation during 1982-83. The scheme envisages organisation of exhibitions
on various themes of 'Education and Culture' like folk dances and folk
songs, painting, art and craft, UNESCO exhibition on books, exhibition on
'Youth on the March' and exhibition of any other national and/or inter-
national theme.
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