APPENDIX H- FORMATION OF A YOUTH MOVEMENT IN INDIA
The Report by the Central Advisory Board of Education on Post-War Educational Development in India stressed the need of guiding the leisure-time activities of the youth, particularly in the age group 14-20, and advocated for this purpose the Organisation of a youth movement on an all India basis. The Report made some definite suggestions in regard to the organisation and activities of the movement and also for the training of leaders. It is regretted, however, that it does not appear to have been possible for those concerned to give effect to the Board's recommendations in this respect.
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2. While the importance of a youth movement has been securing increasing recognition in all progressive countries and there are well organised bodies in the U.K. and other countries to provide healthy activities for the youth and guide their interests into nation building channels, there has been no planned action in this country so far to organise a youth movement. There do, however, exist in the country various organisations which can contribute towards the building up of a proper youth movement. Some of these are mentioned below by way of illustration:
(i) Sports organisations. There are numerous sports organisations in the country of varying status and value. It is, however, necessary that their activities should be co-ordinated into an integrated programme and also that they should reach a much greater number of youth than they do at present.
(ii) Scouts. The two main boy scout associations in the country, namely, the Hindustan Scout Association and the Boy Scouts Association in India, have now been unified into the Bharat Scouts and Guides.
(iii) National Cadet Corps. All States have junior and senior branches of this Organisation. It is necessary to bring a greater number of youth within its orbit.
(iv) Youth Hostels Movement. A. Youth Hostels Association has already been organised in Mysore. The movement is however, yet in its infancy and it is obviously necessary not only to strengthen it but also to establish it on an all-India basis. It is also desirable that the association should be affiliated to the International Youth Hostels Association so that students from other countries may be able to avail of our hostels and vice-versa.
(v) Youth work Programme. Youth Work camps in other countries have shown their value as particularly useful elements of a youth movement. This experiment has hardly been tried in this country so far on any effective basis.
(vi) Youth Clubs. The activities of these clubs, such as indoor games, reading study circles, lectures, handi-crafts etc., need no justification, and there are a large number of them all over the world. Those in this country need to be much better organised and there should be many more of them.
3). The Beard is requested to consider the matter and advise as to the steps that can be taken to develop the various. elements of a youth organisation and to weld them together into a comprehensive youth movement. Among others the following points may be considered :
(1) What the States and or the Government of India can do to encourage and promote a youth movement.
(2) leaderships for youth organisations.
(3) Financial aspect of the youth movement.
(4) Role of Universities and other educational institutions in the organisation of a youth movement.
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4. The Government of India have agreed to the holding of a United Nations Seminar on Youth Welfare in India in the latter part of 1951. It is expected that it will be attended by representatives from all the South East Asian Countries, It will obviously be of advantage if a youth organisation is in effective existence by the time the Seminar takes place.
5. It is, therefore, requested that should the Board consider that the problem of a youth movement requires more detailed consideration and for this purpose decide to set up a. committee of experts to examine the question, the, latter may be asked to expedite its report. It is further requested that the committee may be instructed to submit its report directly to the Chairman of the Board. The report will be duly submitted to the Board at the next meeting but the conclusions and recommendations of the committee may in the mean while be of considerable value in connection with the United Nations Seminar on Youth Welfare.