APPENDIX A (T) : REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF YOUTH WELFARE
The extent to which a country provides service for its youth is a measure of its concern for the future. The youth are the most valuable asset of a community and it is evident that their proper nurture is a sacred obligation. Countries which are proud of their traditions and are confident about their future, therefore spare no pains to provide services of every type for their youths. With the
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attainment of independence, among other problems, the problem of youth also has come to the fore and the Government of India have started paying increasing attention to the welfare of its youth. Youth Welfare Section was set up in the Union Ministry of Education, and a programme of work was drawn up and circulated to all the Vice- Chancellors of Indian universities and Education Secretaries of the State Governments early in December, 1953 for implementation. The main item in the programme was leisure-time activities of the youth, as it was felt that healthy utilisation of leisure-time would go a long way in moulding the way of life and outlook of the youth.
The Programme During 1953-54, an allocation of Rs. 5 lakhs was made from the development funds of the Ministry for youth welfare work. An amount to the extent of Rs. 3.2 lakhs was sanctioned to ten universities for the construction of 17 open-air theatres and 14 swimming pools in and around the educational institutions' campus. The rest was utilised in assisting sports' organisations and Physical education institutions.
In 1954-55, a more generous allocation has been made and funds to the extent of Rs. 11.5 lakhs have been made available for promoting youth welfare and Physical education in the country. Besides, Rs. 30 lakhs has been allocated from the total provision of Rs. 1 crore in the first Five-Year Plan for encouraging manual labour among the youth. Therefore there is a total provision of Rs. 41.5 lakhs at the disposal of the Youth Welfare Section.
(1) Rs. 11.5 lakhs for promoting youth welfare, including sports and Physical education.
(2) Rs. 7.5 lakhs for campus work i. e., for the construction of swimming pools, open-air-theatres etc.
(3) Rs. 22.5 lakhs for labour service camps.
Sports Organisations The Government have given liberal grants to the Indian Olympic Association and other sports organisations to enable Indian teams to participate in international competitions and to invite foreign teams to India. This policy in future will be guided under the expert supervision and care of the recently set up All-India Council of Sports. The setting up of this Council was suggested at the conference of the Presidents of the Sports Organisations in India held on the 14th August, 1954 which was presided over by the Minister for Education. The first meeting of the Council
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was inaugurated by the Minister for Education and held under the Chairmanship of Shri Naval H. Tata. In this meeting a standing committee consisting of seven members was appointed to serve as the executive body of the Council.
Youth Festival In the field of youth welfare, Ministry of Education have started several activities, the most outstanding of which was the Organisation of Inter-University Youth Festival in New Delhi, in November, 1954. This was the first festival of its kind in the country and all the universities were requested to send in their delegates to participate in the various competitions of the festival. Twenty-six universities, out of 31, responded and a total number of 781 competitors took part in this venture. The items of competition for the festival were : Arts and Crafts, Drama, Classical Dance. Instrumental Music, Vocal and Classical Music, Hindi Elocution and Folk Dance. The standard of performance in these items was commended by all who witnessed the shows. The festival displayed the keen interest evinced by students ill this new feature,
Youth Leadership Training Camps In order to bridge the gulf between students and teachers and help the teachers to take their natural place as leaders of the students, three Youth Leadership Training Camps have been organised by the Ministry of Education. Tn these camps, selected members of staff from various affiliated or constituent Colleges of the universities in an area are deputed for training. So far the following universities have been served by these camps:
Location University
1. Srinagar Punjab
2. Mahableshwar Bombay
Baroda
Gujarat
Karnatak
Poona
3. Ranikhet Agra
Aligarh
Allahabad
Banaras
Lucknow.
Dramatic Camp A new activity in the interest of young artists was under. taken by the Ministry in June, 1954 when a dramatic Camp was or.
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ganised at Andretta (Kangra Valley) when selected groups of students of the Universities of Delhi, Rajputana and Agra received training in dramatics and the technique of stage-craft. The training was also intended to stimulate their aesthetic and critical faculties as related to arts.
Youth Tours and Youth Hostels Tours to places of historic, scenic and cultural interest and to places where big national projects are being undertaken, serve a recognised educational purpose. Hikes to places of scenic beauty and historic importance give the young not only love for nature and a legitimate pride in the achievements of the country, but also help to build up physique. Mountaineering affords thrill and joy to the adventurous youth which at present hardly finds an outlet. For such organised activities the Government gives grants. Youth hostels are an immediate corollary to any scheme of tours, hikes and mountaineering. They provide cheap facilities for lodging and boarding to the youth while on the march. Not more than 80 youth hostels exist in the country; it is therefore obvious that many more will be required to make tours and hikes practicable and more popular. The Government have a provision for financial assistance to such organisations constructing youth hostels, or repairing old deserted buildings which can be used as Youth Hostels.
Physical Education and Recreation Institutions of Physical education are the backbone for the proper direction and development on which the health of the young depend. As such the Government keeps in close touch with the Physical education institutions of the country and specially with the research work, either western or yogic, conducted by them. In 1953, the Central Advisory Board on Physical Education and Recreation set up by the Ministry of Education appointed a sub-committee which has submitted a report on the survey of Physical education in the country and suggested certain methods of improvement. Their report is being scrutinised. Besides the Board advises on matters connected with physical fitness, improvement of physical health and promotion of recreational activities. The Government have also evinced much interest in Yogic centres. Schemes for the expansion of research on Yogic system are under the consideration of the Government.
Youth Welfare Committees With a view to giving it a proper shape and to coordinating youth activities in villages, towns and cities' in colleges and univer- sities, the Government have suggested to all Vice-Chancellors and
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State Governments to organise Central or State youth welfare activities. From the response received so far it appears that the scheme has caught the imagination of many educational authorities and State Governments.
Publications The Youth Welfare Section has plans to issue a Youth Journal and other informative booklets. During the current year it has published a booklet on "Work-Camp Management" which has been widely circulated.
Further Programmes The youth welfare work is likely to extend its field of acti- vities and plans are being formulated to earmark some funds in order to sanction grants for the establishment of workshops in the universities, colleges and schools.
Survey of living conditions of students is another activity which is engaging the attention of the Government. It is proposed that schemes to obtain necessary data from different parts of the country should be launched soon.
In addition, plans are being prepared to attend to students' health which is a matter of grave concern. A Pilot Project is already afoot. It is hoped that the Project on School Health Service will in a short time, be operating in Bhopal in which 10,000 school-going children will be covered.
Youth Camps and Work Projects Under the items 2 and 3 of the distribution of youth welfare funds, intensive and extensive work is being carried on to encourage manual labour among the youth. In and around their educational institutions, the students render labour service on the construction of swimming pools and open-air-theatres. Details regarding grants made so far for this purpose are given in Annexure `A'.
In rural areas, the students are encouraged to participate in youth camps and do manual labour on projects of community welfare, like the construction of roads and canals, clearance of slums and ponds, repairing of school buildings and tanks etc., and thus acquaint themselves with the problems of the countryside and have opportunities for healthy and disciplined camp-life. The normal duration of these camps is three to four weeks each, and the camps are held generally during the vacation. This scheme of Youth Camps came into operation in June, 1954 and up to October, 1954 about 251 Youth Camps have been conducted in the country in which approximately 28,477 youths have taken part. State-wise
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break-up of the camps is given in Annexure `B'. The Government subsidise the Youth Camps on the following basis :
1. For food and incidental expenses at Rs. 2, per head per day.
2. Transport charges on the basis of 3rd class railway or actual bus fare.
For the, efficient organisation and management of Youth Camps the Government have decided to pay grants for holding training camps for camp organisers. In these, Organisers' Training Camps, the basic grants for food and incidentals are the same in value as that of the students' camps, but transport charges are determined at the rate of inter-class railway fare both ways per trainee. Lecturers and instructors are paid 2nd class railway fare. The Government have set up a committee on Youth Camps and Labour Service to determine all questions of grants and future policy.
This programme is not final and is likely to be revised and elaborated in the light of the experience gained. During 1955-56, a more-generous allocation of funds is expected for Youth Welfare activities. Proposals are afoot to introduce new items and scheme for the welfare of the youth.
ANNEXURE `A'
Statement showing the Grants Sanctioned for swimming Pools and
Open-Air-Theatres during the year 1954-55.
Sl. No. of No. of Amount
N O. Name of institution. swimming open-air sanctioned
Pools. theatres.
1 Agra University
(a) Meerut College, Meerut 1 15,000
(b) U.S. S. D. College, Kanpur 1 7,000
2 Poona University
(a) University Campus 1 14,250
(b) Rajaram College, Kolhapur 1 1 22,000
3 Nagpur University
(a) Vidaibh Mahavidyalaya
Amaravati 1 30,000
(b) S. B. City College, Nagpur 1
(C) G. S. College 1 7,000
4 Punjab University
D. A. V. College, Jullundur 1 15,000
5 Bombay University
R.D.& S . H. National College,
Bombay 1 15,000
6 M. S. University of Baroda
University Campus 1 15,000
7 Lucknow University
University Campus 1 15,000
8 Poona University
Gogate College, Ratnagiri 1 7,000
Total 9 4 1,62,250
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ANNEXURE `B'
Statement regarding Youth Camps and Labour Service by Students as
on 31st October, 1954.
No. of No. of Stu- Amount
Sl. State. camps. dents who sanctioned.
No. (a) participated (c)
(b)
Rs.
1 Ajmer 10 1000 42,800
2 Andhra 13 1597 90,109
3 Assam 3 100 2,790
4 Bihar 13 1530 72,960
5 Bombay 9 560 17,528
6 Delhi 5 400 32,500
7 Himachal Pradesh 11 1654 74,568
8 Hyderabad 11 1096 26,140
9 Madhya Pradesh 2 90 5,301
10 Madras 6 1235 42,920
11 Mysore 40 4525 1,57,850
12 Punjab 38 3045 1,39,364
13 Rajasthan. 5 465 16,652
14 Saurashtra 6 415 17,747
15 U. P 29 8165 1,58,950
16 West Bengal 50 2600 1,75,000
Total 251 28,477 10,77,179