Activities under NYKS
At present there is a Kendra of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) in 501 districts of the country. The Government has recently approved the proposal to open a Kendra of NYKS in the remaining 122 uncovered districts of the country including Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh. This was stated by Shri Ajay Maken, Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs & Sports, in the Lok Sabha today, in a written reply to a question by ShriMaheshwar Hazari & Shri Dilip Singh Judev. The Minister further stated that during the year 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11, funds to the tune of Rs.101.76 crore, Rs.127.54 crore and Rs.121.50 crore respectively were made available and during the current year Rs.134.50 crore has been earmarked for 501 Nehru Yuva Kendras (NYKs). Each Kendra is granted funds to the tune of Rs. 5-7 lakh annually based on the number of blocks in the district.
The Minister further stated that a holistic management study of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) was entrusted to Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad who having submitted their report in February, 2009 made some major recommendations, inter alia, reorganization of NYKS programmes, impact of NYKS on empowerment and development of youth, structural changes for improving the delivery of services and convergence with schemes and programmes of other Ministries and international agencies etc. The Government has implemented the recommendations thereby introducing a new programme for Youth Leadership and Personality Development, the Zonal offices have been increased from 18 to 28, introduction of Skill Upgradation Training Programme (SUTP) for girls in 200 boarding/Tribal/Hilly districts of the country, preparation of revised training manuals on various subjects for Youth Development and Empowerment, Life Skills Education, National Integration & Social Harmony and Enhancement of honorarium from Rs.1000/- to Rs.2500/- per month being paid to the volunteers. The major thrust of NYKs now is towards the deployment and mentoring of Rural Youth Clubs at the village level. The Government has taken steps towards the infrastructural upgradation, capacity building and the professionalization of the youth clubs, the Minister added.
Shri Maken further stated that NYKS has also taken new initiatives for implementing programmes and activities of various Ministries/Departments especially concerning awareness campaign and advocacy. A paradigm shift has been brought in the functioning and implementation of schemes by NYKS. Towards this end, specific projects have been initiated in respect of Women and Child Development, Youth Exchange Programme for Jammu & Kashmir and North Eastern Region, HIV AIDS, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Disaster Management and providing Agricultural Extension and Education, Youth Employability Skill (YES) Project for 59 districts of North Eastern States.
RM/RS- USQ3011 - LS