Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram

The Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and has been continuing since 12th Five Year Plan. The Scheme aims to develop the personality and leadership qualities of the youth and to engage them in nation building activities.

Youth represent the most dynamic and vibrant segment of the population. India is one of the youngest nations in the world and is expected to have a very favourable demographic profile in the time to come. In India, youth in the age ­group of 15-29 years constitute 27.5% of the population.

The Department of Youth Affairs has been operating a number of Schemes for development and empowerment of youth. Restructuring of the schemes were done in 2014 in order to improve their effectiveness. In the process 8 ongoing schemes were merged to form the umbrella Scheme called Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram (RYSK) with effect from 01.04.2016.

The Scheme is to be continued during 2017-18 to 2019-2020 with budget outlay of Rs.1160 crore.

Beneficiaries

The Scheme beneficiaries are youth in the age-group of 15-29 years, in line with the definition of 'youth' in the National Youth Policy, 2014. In case of programme components specifically meant for the adolescents, the age group is 10-19 years.

Scheme Components

The following existing Schemes/ Programmes were subsumed in the Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram (RYSK):

• Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS).
• National Youth Corps (NYC).
• National Programme for Youth and Adolescent Development (NPYAD).
• International Cooperation (IC).
• Youth Hostels (YH).
• Assistance to Scouting and Guiding Organisations
• National Discipline Scheme (NDS)
• National Young Leaders Programme (NYLP).

A broad outline of each of the above Scheme components is given below.

Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS)

NYKS, launched in 1972, is one of the largest youth organisations in the world. NYKS has millions of youth enrolled through lakhs of youth clubs/ mahila mandals. NYKS has presence in 623 Districts through Nehru Yuva Kendras. The Objective is to develop the personality and Leadership qualities of the youth and to engage them in nation-building activities.

NYKS, an autonomous organisation under the Department, is a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The activities of NYKS are carried out through a District Youth Coordinator (DYC) in each District (who is in-charge of the Nehru Yuva Kendra in the District) and 2 National Youth Corps (NYC) volunteers in each Block. NYC volunteers act as an interface between the District NYK offices and the youth clubs/ mahila mandals.

Programmes/ Activities of NYKS broadly fall in the following categories:

1. Core Programmes: These are the programmes implemented by NYKS with its own budgetary resources (Block Grants released by the Department). These include Youth Club Development Programme, Training on Youth Leadership and Community Development, Theme-based Awareness and Education Programme, Promotion of Sports, Skill Up-gradation Training Programme, Promotion of Folk Art and Culture, Observance of Days of National and International importance, District Youth Convention and Yuva Kriti, Awards to Outstanding Youth Clubs, etc.
2. Programmes organised with funding from NPY AD: These include National Integration Camps(NICs),Youth Leadership and Personality Development Programmes(YLPDPs), Life Skill Training Programmes and Adventure Camps.
3. Programmes organised with funding from other Ministries/ Organisations: These include Tribal Youth Exchange Programmes, Adolescent Health and Development Project (AHDP), Projects on Awareness and Education for Prevention of Drug Abuse and Alcoholism in Punjab, etc.
4. Programmes in coordination with various Departments/ Agencies: YKS does not receive any funding, but organises/ participates in various programmes in coordination with various Development Departments/ Agencies. District NYKs and the NYC volunteers closely work with other Development Departments/ Agencies and carry out the activities by actively involving the youth clubs/ mahila mandals. Some such activities are blood donation, plantation of saplings, formation of SHGs, organisation of health/ eye/ immunisation camps. enrolment of children in schools, campaign against social evils. etc.

National Youth Corps (NYC) Scheme

NYC Scheme was introduced w.e.f. 01.04.2010. NYC Scheme is a Scheme of the Department, but the same is implemented through NYKS. NYC Scheme is, therefore, already fully integrated with NYKS. Under the Scheme, youth in the age-group of 18-25 years are engaged as volunteers to serve upto maximum 2 years in nation-building activities. The minimum qualification for NYC volunteers is Class-X passed and they are paid honorarium @ Rs.2,500/- per month. The selection of NYC volunteer is done by a Selection Committee, headed by District Collector/ Deputy Commissioner of the concerned District. The volunteers are given 15-day Induction Training at the time of joining and 7-day Refresher Training in the second year of their tenure. At the end of the 2- year tenure of NYC volunteers, NYKS provides them skill development training so that they can get some employment after their term with YKS ends. After 2 years, another set of NYC volunteers are recruited.

National Programme for Youth and Adolescent Development (NPYAD)

NPYAD Scheme was introduced w.e.f. 01.04.2008. Under this Scheme, financial assistance is provided to Government/ non-Government organisations for taking up youth and adolescent activities. The assistance under NPYAD is provided under 5 major components, namely,

1. Youth Leadership and Personality Development Training
2. Promotion of National Integration (National Integration Camps, Inter-State Youth Exchange Programmes, Youth Festivals, etc.)
3. Promotion of Adventure; Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards
4. Development and Empowerment of Adolescents (Life Skills Education, Counselling, Career Guidance, etc.)
5. Technical and Resource Development (Research and Studies on Youth issues, Documentation, Seminars/ Workshops)

International Cooperation

The Department endeavours to create an international perspective among youth in collaboration with other countries and international agencies/ organizations on various youth issues. The Department also collaborates with UN Agencies like United Nations Volunteers(UNY)/ United National Development Fund (UNDP)and the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) on various youth related issues.

Youth Hostels

Youth Hostels are built to promote youth travel and to enable the young people to experience the rich cultural heritage of the country. The construction of the Youth Hostels is a joint venture of the Central and State Governments. While the Central Government bears the cost of construction, the State Governments provide fully developed land free-of-cost, with water supply, electricity connection and approach roads. Youth Hostels provide good accommodation for the youth at reasonable rates. The Youth Hostels are looked after by Managers, appointed by the Central Government. For each Hostel, a Hostel Management Committee (HMC) is constituted to oversee the management related issues for an efficient functioning of the Hostel. The HMC is headed by a State Government functionary (Collector/ DC at the District level/ Secretary,Youth Affairs/ Sports in the State Capital).

Assistance to Scouting and Guiding Organisations

The Department provides assistance to the Scouting and Guiding Organisations, with a view to promote the Scouts and Guides movement in the country. This is an international movement aimed at building character, confidence, idealism and spirit of patriotism and service among young boys and girls. Scouting and Guiding also seeks to promote balanced physical and mental development among the boys and girls.

The financial assistance is provided to scouting and guiding organisations for various programmes such as organization of training camps, skill development progran1mes, holding of jamborees, etc. The activities, inter alia, include programmes related to adult literacy, environment conservation, community service, health awareness and promotion of hygiene and sanitation. Currently, assistance is being released to two organisations, namely, (i) Bharat Scouts and Guides and (ii) Hindustan Scouts and Guides, for carrying on various scouting and guiding activities.

National Discipline Scheme (NDS)

The Central Government had committed to reimburse liabilities incurred towards pay & allowances of NDS (National Discipline Scheme) Instructors, when the services of such instructors were transferred to the States. A budget provision of Rs.2 crores per annum (under Non-Plan) is being made for settlement of these liabilities. The outstanding liabilities are, however, much higher at over Rs.200 crores.

National Young Leaders Programme (NYLP)

NYLP Scheme was introduced during 2014-15. The objective of the Scheme is to develop leadership qualities among the youth to enable them to realise their full potential and in the process, to contribute to the nation­ building process. The Programme aims at motivating the youth to strive for excellence in their respective fields and to bring them to the forefront of the development process. It seeks to harness the immense youth energy for national-building. The Programme has 5 components, as outlined below:

1. Neighbourhood Youth Parliament (NYP): The objective of Neighbourhood Youth Parliament is to provide a platform to the youth to articulate their views on various socio-economic development issues of concern to them. Youth clubs under NYKS are being enabled to function as 'neighbourhood youth parliament'. The implementing strategy followed is that the Presidents/ Secretaries of the Youth Clubs first participate in Capacity Building programmes in the form of Block Youth Parliaments and thereafter, they are required to organise 'neighbourhood youth parliament' programmes in respective villages. In these programmes, youth discuss/ debate issues of concern and formulate their recommendations, which are presented to local officials/ local bodies, for their consideration. The Programme is helping in developing leadership qualities among the youth and in actively involving them in the governance process.
2. Youth for Development Programme (YFDP): The Programme aims at channelising the immense youth energy towards the nation-building, by involving youth in Shramadaan(voluntary labour). The Programme is being implemented through NYKS. Other organisations like NSS, NCC and Eco Clubs are also sought to be involved in the programme. Each youth volunteer is expected to put in 100 hours of Shramadaan every year.
3. National Young Leaders Awards (NYLA): The youth are doing pioneering work in all the sectors. The Programme aims at motivating the youth to strive for excellence in their respective fields by recognising and rewarding the outstanding work done by them. It is proposed to confer 2 awards (one male and one female) in about 50 identified domains/ sectors.
4. National Youth Advisory Council (NYAC): The Council is being set up to seek active involvement of the young leaders as well as other stakeholders in the decision-making process on the youth related issues. NY AC shall advise the Ministries/ Departments on youth related initiatives/ issues. The Council will give effective representation to young leaders from all States/ UTs in the governance process.
5. National Youth Development Fund (NYDF): The objective of NYDF is to mobilise funds from non-budgetary resources also for youth development, in order to enable the Department to fill the gaps in the ongoing programmes as also take up innovative programmes for youth development to create young leaders. The operational guidelines for NYDF have been finalised and notification has been issued. Further steps are being taken.

To access the complete scheme guidelines, click here.

Source : Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports