Industrial
Promotion Policies - Central Government
National Youth
Policy 2003
Introduction
1.1. The National Youth Policy, 2003
reiterates the commitment of the entire nation to the
composite and all-round development of the young sons
and daughters of India and seeks to establish an All-India
perspective to fulfill their legitimate aspirations
so that they are all strong of heart and strong of body
and mind in successfully accomplishing the challenging
tasks of national reconstruction and social changes
that lie ahead.
1.2. The earlier National Youth Policy was formulated
in 1988. The socio-economic conditions in the country
have since undergone a significant change and have been
shaped by wide-ranging technological advancement. The
National Youth Policy - 2003 is designed to galvanize
the youth to rise up to the new challenges, keeping
in view the global scenario, and aims at motivating
them to be active and committed participants in the
exciting task of National Development.
1.3. The Policy is based on recognition of the contribution
that the youth can, and should, make to the growth and
well-being of the community and endeavours to ensure
effective co-ordination between the policies, programmes
and delivery systems of the various Ministries, Departments
and other Agencies. The thrust of the Policy centres
around "Youth Empowerment" in different spheres
of national life.
1.4. For India to occupy her rightful place in the Comity
of Nations and to meaningfully discharge the manifold
obligations thereto, it would be imperative to ensure
the effective pursuit of youth development programmes
which promote personality development and Qualities
of Citizenship and enhance commitment to Community Service,
Social Justice, Self-reliance, National Integration
and Humanism, an inclusive view of the entire universe
as enshrined in our ancient scriptures. The Policy,
therefore, recognizes these inter-related values and
principles as its basic premise.
2.1 Since our national progress depends, crucially,
on the ways and means through which the youth are encouraged
and nurtured as a positive force for national progress
and are enabled to contribute to socio-economic development,
it is essential for an appropriate policy framework
to be in place to harness the energies of the youth
in this task.
2.2 Recognizing, further, that youth development is
a multi-faceted concept, it is equally necessary that
all the relevant agencies, including the Ministries
and Departments of the Central and State Governments,
and local self Government bodies and Panchayati Raj
institutions devise their plans and programmes bearing
these aspects and features in mind. The Policy will
facilitate a multi-dimensional and integrated approach
in this behalf, with the State Agencies striving to
accelerate the formulation and implementation of programmes.
2.3 An important indicator of the success of such programmes
being the stake of the beneficiaries in the results
of the same, this Policy also stresses that the youth
of the country should enjoy greater participation in
the processes of decision-making and execution at local
and higher levels. Such participation would be facilitated
by identifiable structures, transparent procedures and
wider representation of the youth in appropriate bodies,
with the emphasis being more on working with the youth
than for the youth.
3.1 This Policy will cover all the youth in the country
in the age group of 13 to 35 years. It is acknowledged
that since all the persons within this age group are
unlikely to be one homogenous group, but rather a conglomeration
of sub-groups with differing social roles and requirements,
the age group may, therefore, be divided into two broad
sub-groups viz. 13-19 years and 20-35 years. The youth
belonging to the age group 13-19, which is a major part
of the adolescent age group, will be regarded as a separate
constituency.
3.2 The number of youth in the age group of 13-35 years,
as per the 1991 Census, was estimated at about 34 crores,
and about 38 crores in 1997, which is anticipated to
increase to about 51 crores by the year 2016. The percentage
of youth in the total population, which, according to
the 1996 Census projections, is estimated to be about
37% in 1997, is also likely to increase to about 40%
by the year 2016. The availability of a human resource
of such magnitude for achieving socio-economic change
and technological excellence needs commensurate infrastructure
and suitable priorities to maximize its contribution
to National Development.
4.1 to instil in the youth, at large, an abiding awareness
of, and adherence to, the secular principles and values
enshrined in the Constitution of India, with unswerving
commitment to Patriotism, National Security, National
Integration, Non-violence and Social Justice;
4.2 to develop Qualities of Citizenship and dedication
to Community Service amongst all sections of the youth;
4.3 to promote awareness, amongst the youth, in the
fields of Indian history and heritage, arts and culture;
4.4 to provide the youth with proper educational and
training opportunities and to facilitate access to information
in respect of employment opportunities and to other
services, including entrepreneurial guidance and financial
credit;
4.5 to facilitate access, for all sections of the youth,
to health information and services and to promote a
social environment which strongly inhibits the use of
drugs and other forms of substance abuse, wards off
disease (like HIV/AIDS), ensures measures for de-addiction
and mainstreaming of the affected persons and enhances
the availability of sports and recreational facilities
as constructive outlets for the abundant energy of the
youthl;
4.6 to sustain and reinforce the spirit of volunteerism
amongst the youth in order to build up individual character
and generate a sense of commitment to the goals of developmental
programmes;
4.7 to create an international perspective in the youth
and to involve them in promoting peace and understanding
and the establishment of a just global economic order;
4.8 to develop youth leadership in various socio-economic
and cultural spheres and to encourage the involvement
of Non-Governmental Organizations, Co-operatives and
Non-formal groups of young people; and
4.9. to promote a major participatory role for the youth
in the protection and preservation of nature, including
natural resources, to channelise their abundant energies
in community service so as to improve the environment
and foster a scientific, inquisitive reasoning and rational
attitude in the younger generation and to encourage
the youth to undertake such travel excursions as would
better acquaint them with cultural harmony, amidst diversity,
in India, and overseas.
5.1 Youth empowerment: The Policy recognizes that in
order for the youth to effectively participate in decision
making processes, it is essential that they are better
equipped with requisite knowledge, skills and capabilities.
Towards this end, the Policy envisions the following:
Attainment of higher educational levels and expertise
by the youth, in line with their abilities and aptitudes,
and access to employment opportunities accordingly;
Adequate nutrition for the full development of physical
and mental potential and the creation of an environment
which promotes good health, and ensures protection from
disease and unwholesome habits;
Development of youth leadership and its involvement
in programmes and activities pertaining to National
Development;
Equality of opportunity and respect for Human and Fundamental
Rights without distinction of race, caste, creed, sex,
language, religion or geographic location and access
to facilities relating to Sports, Cultural, Recreational
and Adventure activities.
5.2. Gender Justice: The Policy recognizes the prevailing
gender bias to be the main factor responsible for the
poor status of health and economic well-being of women
in our society and that any discrimination on grounds
of sex violates the basic rights of the individual concerned
and it, therefore, stands for the elimination of gender
discrimination in every sphere. The Policy enunciates
that:
(a) Every girl child and young woman will have access
to education and would also be a primary target of efforts
to spread literacy.
(b) Women will have access to adequate health services
(including reproductive health programmes) and will
have full say in defining the size of the family.
(c) Domestic violence will be viewed not only as violation
of women's freedom but also as that of human rights.
(d) All necessary steps should be taken for women's
access to decision-making process, to professional positions
and to productive resources and economic opportunities.
(e) Young men, particularly the male adolescents shall
be properly oriented, through education and counseling
to respect the status and rights of women.
5.2.1 The Policy further enunciates that
(a) Action would be pursued to eliminate all forms of
discrimination in respect of the girl child, negative
cultural attitudes and practices against women, discrimination
against women in education, skill development and training,
and the socio-economic exploitation of women, particularly
young women;
(b) Concerted efforts will be made to promote a family
value system that nurtures a closer bond between men
and women, and ensures equality, mutual respect and
sharing of responsibility between the sexes.
5.3 Inter-Sectoral Approach: The Policy recognizes that
an inter-sectoral approach is a pre-requisite for dealing
with youth-related issues. It, therefore, advocates
the establishment of a coordinating mechanism among
the various Central Government Ministries and Departments
and between the Central and State Governments, and the
community based organisations and youth bodies for facilitating
convergence in youth related schemes, developing integrated
policy initiatives for youth programmes and for reviewing
on-going activities / schemes to fill in gaps and remove
unnecessary duplication and overlap.
5.4 Information & Research Network: Youth development
efforts in India have been hampered by lack of adequate
information and research base. The Policy, therefore,
suggests the establishment of a well organized Information
& Research Network in regard to various areas of
concern to the youth to facilitate the formulation of
focused youth development schemes and programmes. The
Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development
(RGNIYD) will serve as the apex Information and Research
Centre on youth development issues. The National Youth
Centre and the State Youth Centres will also serve as
store houses of information for the youth. At the micro
level, the Youth Development Centres under the NYKs
will be equipped to serve as information centres for
the local youth.
The Policy acknowledges that the youth of the country
should be assured of the following:
6.1 Appropriate education and training which enables
them to render themselves socially useful and economically
productive;
6.2 Gainful employment and adequate opportunities for
personal development and advancement for those not currently
in employment;
6.3 Requisite shelter and a clean environment, as also
basic health services of quality;
6.4 Social defence and protection from all manner of
exploitation;
6.5 Suitable participation in decision-making bodies
which are concerned with issues relating to the youth
and with socio-economic and cultural matters;
6.6 Sufficient allocation of public funds for youth
development;
6.7 Access to Sports, Physical Education, Adventure
and Recreational opportunities.
The Policy exhorts the youth to fulfill their responsibilities,
as are enumerated below:
7.1 to contribute to sectoral, family and self development
and to promote social and inter-generation understanding
and gender equality;
7.2 to extend respect to teachers and elders, parents
and the family, in consonance with our cultural norms
and traditions;
7.3 to uphold the unity and integrity of the Nation,
maintain peace and harmony, observe Fundamental Duties
and respect the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms guaranteed
under the Constitution to all sections of the people;
7.4 to respect others' faiths and beliefs in the religious,
cultural and social spheres and to different schools
of thought and to neither exploit nor be instrumental
in the exploitation of fellow citizens and other persons,
especially women;
7.5 to promote appropriate standards of ethical conduct
in individual and social life, to maintain honesty and
integrity of character and be committed to fight against
all forms of corruption, social evils and practices.
7.6 to preserve and protect the Environment; and
7.7 to commit themselves to create a discrimination
and exploitation free environment and to devote their
time and energy in nation building activities.
The Policy recognizes the following areas as key sectors
of concern for the youth:
1. Education;
2. Training and Employment;
3. Health and Family welfare;
4. Preservation of Environment, Ecology and Wild life;
5. Recreation and Sports;
6. Arts and Culture;
7. Science and Technology; and
8. Civics and good Citizenship.
8.1 Education
8.1.1. The Policy acknowledges that the objective of
providing appropriate education, which enables the youth
to develop into good citizens of the country, should
also suitably influence relevant actions of the Government
and public behaviour.
8.1.2 It is recognized that the need of the educational
system to instill, in the youth, an abiding sense of
patriotism and in values oriented towards the unity
and integrity of the country, equally calls for the
elimination of violence in all forms, adherence to good
moral and ethical values and respect and reverence for
India's composite culture and national heritage.
8.1.3 This Policy emphasizes that the learning process
should minimise the stress and strain, which the system
may exert on students, especially in the early years.
The thrust of the educational system, particularly in
the early years, ought to be on learning, rather than
on merely qualifying in examinations and memory-based
tests. The Policy lays emphasis on outdoor learning
as an integral part of the educational process and on
Physical Education, Sports, Games and Adventure activities.
8.1.4 Academic institutions should be equipped with
adequate sports and recreational facilities.
8.1.5 Education, above the secondary level, should have
a high degree of vocationalisation so as to enable the
youth to acquire such requisite skills as would augment
avenues of employment for them; technical institutions
need to be strengthened and their number increased keeping
an eye on our country's emergence as a major force in
information technology.
8.1.6 There needs to be greater uniformity in the educational
system and standards in various parts of the country.
8.1.7 Closer links should be developed between the educational
system and prospective employers, on an institutional
basis and career counselling should be a part of the
educational system, from the secondary level onwards.
Programmes need to be undertaken for proper dissemination
of information, amongst young men and women, in respect
of career options.
8.1.8 Programmes should be undertaken to upgrade the
existing skills of young artisans of traditional handicrafts
and other products and for those who may wish to take
up the same as a vocation. Education system should also
have a rural orientation to address the varied needs
of agriculture, agro - processing and other areas of
rural economy.
8.1.9 Educational curriculum in schools should include
information on health issues, including reproductive
health, HIV-AIDS and also on population issues.
8.1.10 Youth clubs and Mahila Mandals should be encouraged
to involve their members in programmes like "Sarva
Shiksha Abhiyan" and Total Literacy Campaign for
universalisation of primary education, and spread of
literacy and to organize activities to promote book
reading habits among the youth.
8.2.1. This Policy recognizes that the question of employment
is, at present, of very serious concern for the Indian
youth and that several social issues arise out of widespread
unemployment and under-employment of the youth.
8.2.2. This Policy further acknowledges that the incidence
of unemployment is more pronounced in the rural areas
and in urban slums and calls for appropriate strategies
and commensurate efforts to deal with it.
8.2.3. The current trends suggest that the growth rate
of the labour force has been higher than the growth
rate of population and that the growth rate of employment
has not been in proportion to GDP growth.
8.2.4. The critical issues in this area include a mis-match
between skills-requirement and employment opportunities,
low technology levels, low wages and low productivity,
occupational shifts in employment, under-employment
owing to seasonal factors, excess labour supply in relation
to demand, migration of the labour force from the rural
to urban areas and limited participation of women in
the work force, especially in the organized sector.
8.2.5. The incidence of unemployment has been accentuated
by advances in technology and communications, to tackle
which, opportunities for self-employment need to be
created. Schemes to provide "seed money" to
assist viable enterprises initiated by the youth need
to be drawn up. A network of youth skill training centres
would need to be established to build up the capacities
of the young people for income generation activities.
8.2.6. Adequate funding for both pre-job and on-the-job
training for youth by government as well as other stake
holders should be ensured. For proper vocational guidance
and career counselling, schools and colleges should
pay adequate attention to this aspect as part of their
co-curricular activities.
8.2.7. Government, in conjunction with youth organisations,
will develop training programmes for young people in
the rural areas, based on their needs. Special schemes
would also be developed for young women, youth with
disabilities and for young people returning from the
urban to the rural areas, alongside flexibility in training
systems and collaboration between training institutions
and potential employers.
8.2.8. Co-operative schemes involving Self Help Groups
of young people in the production and marketing of goods
and services would be encouraged and strengthened, with
government support. Banks and Co-operatives would be
advised to make identifiable allocations of soft credit
to young people and their Self Help Groups and micro-credit
adopted as a strategy to enable young women and men,
in the rural areas, to undertake fruitful economic ventures.
8.2.9. A Data Bank will be created to keep abreast of
the employment opportunities being generated, as also
the availability of young people, with the requisite
skills, for the same;
8.3.1 The policy recognises that a holistic approach
towards health, mental, physical and spiritual, needs
to be adopted after careful assessment of the health
needs of the youth.
8.3.2 As per the youth population projections (based
on the 1991 Census), about 21.4% of the total population
in 1996 was estimated to be in the age group of 10-19
years; of these, about 78.4% lived in the rural and
the remaining ( 21.6% ) in the urban areas. The mean
age of marriage in the rural areas was 21.56 years for
males and 16.67 years for females. In the urban areas,
the mean age for marriage was 24.32 years for males
and 19.92 years for females. In other words, most women
in India are married during the age of adolescence.
8.3.3 The areas of focus of this Policy, in so far as
health of the youth is concerned, are:
1. General Health;
2. Mental Health;
3. Spiritual Health;
4. AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Substance Abuse;
and
5. Population Education.
(a) General Health
8.3.4 Nutrition : The policy recognises an urgent need
for greater concentration on nutritional studies on
the youth - particularly the young women and the adolescents
and advocates all measures to lessen the differences
between their daily average intake of energy and proteins
and the recommended daily intake allowances ( RDA).
The Policy particularly emphasises on reduction of this
gap, which is wider among the children of growing age
as per Indian National Nutritional Profile, 1998.
8.3.5 The growth rate standard of Indian adolescents,
measured in terms of Body Mass Index ( BMI ) viz. ratio
between weight and height, is lower in India than in
most of the industrialised nations. Iron deficiency
and anemia are common, especially in girls. The growth-related
requirements of adolescents often continue beyond the
teenage years and overlap with the nutritional needs
of early pregnancy, which has an impact on the health
of new-born children, in addition to the mothers. Discriminatory
practices in respect of girls also lead to lack of adequate
nutritional intake, which results in malnutrition, anaemia
and other micro-nutrient deficiencies in young girls
which are more noticeable in the rural areas. These
concerns need to be effectively tackled through appropriate
measures, including awareness-generation programmes.
8.3.6 The Policy lays emphasis on the importance of
hygiene and sanitation in promoting a healthy society.
All efforts should be made to inculcate in the youth
a sense of hygiene and sanitation right from early education.
The youth on their part should be encouraged to organise
mass awareness campaigns in their neighbourhood to promote
better hygiene and sanitation. Their services should
also be utilised in creating better sanitation facilities
for the community, both in rural areas and urban slums.
8.3.7 Health education and health consciousness: This
Policy strongly recommends introduction of health education
in the curricula of regular / formal education in higher
classes of schools and colleges, in non-formal education
centres and in every other organised interaction with
the youth. The policy advocates that every youth of
India should clearly understand the what, why and how
of good health within his or her socio - economic parameters.
A policy of minimum physical exercise for all should
be propagated.
(b) Mental Health
8.3.8 Lack of proper education often leads to mental depression.
In an environment that is becoming complex and competitive
by the day, the chances of young minds being afflicted
with depression are ever rising. This is particularly
so, among adolescents who are showing higher incidence
of suicidal traits than even before. Against this background,
this Policy advocates a system of education which teaches
the youth to fight back rather than give in. It also recommends
establishment of state-sponsored and free counseling services
for the youth, particularly the adolescents.
8.3.9 Adolescence is a period of change and, consequently,
one of stress, characterized by uncertainties in regard
to identity and position in the peer group, in society
at large and in the context of one's own responsibilities
as an adult. The compulsions of parental approval often
encounter the emerging aspirations of independence.
Adolescents exhibit mood-swings and might even indulge
in self-destructive activities, such as use of alcohol,
drugs and violence; they need, therefore, to be treated
with openness, understanding and sympathy and offered
creative channels to harness their energies. This would
necessitate training and capacity building of all professional
groups including NGOs working with the youth belonging
to this age group.
(c) Spiritual Health
8.3.10. Health of the mind should be coupled with the
health of the spirit. Towards this, yoga and meditation
should be propagated widely among the youth. Yoga, in
particular, should be taught in the schools.
(d) HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Substance
Abuse
8.3.11 The Policy recognizes that the percentage of
young people falling prey to substance abuse, STDs and
HIV / AIDS being relatively higher, these issues need
be tackled as, primarily, confronting the younger generation,
particularly the adolescents who are most affected.
Being highly impressionable, and, therefore, prone to
high risk behaviour, they require proper education and
awareness about reproductive health issues, including
safe sexual behaviour. The Policy, therefore, advocates
a two-pronged approach of education and awareness for
prevention and proper treatment and counselling for
cure and rehabilitation. It further enjoins that information
in respect of the reproductive health system should
form part of the educational curriculum. The Policy
also stresses the need for establishment of adolescent
clinics in large hospitals and similar projects in rural
areas to address the health needs of the young adults.
(e) Population Education
8.3.12 The Policy recognises that a growing population
is a serious national problem that has negated many of
our achievements in the field of development. The youth
have an important role to play in this sphere and can
create greater awareness in this regard through community
programmes.
8.3.13 Responsible sexual behaviour can be promoted
through education in family-life issues and control
of population. Pregnancy and childbirth, in the adolescent
period, particularly for young women below 17 years
of age who are living in unhealthy conditions and without
adequate access to health services, has been a serious
bio-medical hazard. The adolescent age-group has to
be sensitised in regard to the correct age for marriage
and for the first pregnancy, sufficient spacing between
births and limiting the size of the family. It is conceded
that in spite of several initiatives taken by the Government,
the social climate enjoins the young couple to produce
their first child soon after marriage. This scenario
is unlikely to change in the near or medium term. Entering
into matrimony at the right age assumes critical importance
in this context, apart from its healthy impact in checking
the high rate of population growth. It is equally imperative
that young adults be sensitised to their role and responsibilities
as responsible parents. Ante-natal, natal and post-natal
services of quality are also necessary for young women.
8.3.14 The following strategies should be adopted to provide
better health services to the youth :
1. Government , in co-operation with the Youth Organisations
and NGOs, would promote the establishment of Youth Health
Associations, at the grass-root level, to ensure proper
sanitation, health and hygiene and would, in cooperation
with Youth Organisations, develop Family Welfare Services
for young people and provide counselling services;
2. Programmes would be instituted, with the support
of Youth Organisations and NGOs, to sensitise medical
and para-medic students on the issues of health and
hygiene and also in the IEC component of various disease
control programmes; and
3. Young people will be recognised as "Health Promoters".
8.3.15 The youth will also be involved in a structured
manner in the following health-related activities:
1. Construction of lavatories, water points, dispensaries
and wells; cleaning of public places and related environment
protection activities; community surveys and research
on health-related matters;
2. Safe blood donation, nutrition and food production
projects;
3. Information, education and prevention campaigns in
respect of health concerns, such as malaria, malnutrition,
STD (including HIV / AIDS), teenage pregnancy and abuse
of alcohol and other harmful substances;
4. "Peer Education" will be an important element
in promoting health services.
8.3.16 This Policy urges upon universal accessibility
of an acceptable, affordable and quality health care
service to the youth throughout the length and breadth
of this country to be made available in close proximity
to their places of residence. The youth should have
this accessibility for themselves as well as for other
vulnerable age groups whom they could help out.
8.4.1 The Policy recognises that children and young
people are particularly vulnerable to the ill effects
of environmental degradation. Unplanned industrialisation,
which leads to pollution and to degradation of rivers,
forests and land, adversely affects the young who have
a vital stake in a healthy environment.
8.4.2 Considering the importance of community involvement
in preservation of the environment, the Policy exhorts
young people to play an increasingly significant role
in mobilising the public, at large, in this national
endeavour. The Policy also advocates motivating the
youth to develop respect for Nature and to lead lifestyle
which are less resource consumptive and more source
conservationist.
8.4.3 The Policy recognises that women are seriously
affected by environmental degradation resulting, inter-alia,
in lack of potable water and scarcity of fuel wood.
The migration of men to cities to seek employment often
isolates the womenfolk who are left to fend for themselves.
8.4.4 Having regard to the above, the Policy highlights
the following lines of concrete action:
1. Greater emphasis should be placed on environmental
education in school curricula and training programmes
should be arranged to inform teachers on environmental
issues so as to enable them to instruct the youth suitably.
Environmental education should also be a part of the
outdoor learning process;
2. The participation of Youth Organisations in gathering
environmental data and in understanding environmental
issues would be encouraged as a means of improving their
knowledge of immediate surroundings and accentuating
personal concern towards proper environmental management;
3. Motivating the youth to establish nature and adventure
clubs in villages and towns with a view to creating
mass awareness towards protection of the country's bio
- diversity, and to work with local bodies and NGOs
in planning and management of our forests, rural water
bodies, common land and natural resources through active
local participation.
4. Vocational training, in recycling of materials and
managing waste materials, would be promoted so as to
ensure that more young people may find a local source
of livelihood and, at the same time, arrest degradation
of the environment; and
5. Youth Organisations, at the grass root level, would
be assisted in provision of training in agro-forestry,
agriculture and traditional agricultural practices.
6. Promotion of both traditional and alternative technologies
for water conservation and water harvesting through
Youth organisations.
8.5.1 Having recognised that the overall objective of
the Policy is the all-round development of personality
of the youth and noting that Sports, Physical Education,
Adventure, Recreation and related activities might often
be overlooked, this Policy strongly supports these activities
as important areas of human resource development. No
system of education could be considered successful,
unless it addresses the urges and aspirations of the
youth to be creative and appreciative of the manifold
facets of nature and of social life.
8.5.2 The Policy, accordingly, enunciates that:
1. Sports and games be promoted as a mass movement by
making it a way of life;
2. Sports, Games and Physical Education including Yoga,
should be compulsory in all Educational Institutions;
3. Every educational institution should have adequate
facilities for recreation, adventure and sports activities,
including playgrounds;
4. Provision be made for common play grounds in the
master plans of all civic and municipal areas;
5. At least one-fifth of the time spent by a student
in an educational institution should be earmarked for
outdoor activities;
6. Geographically disadvantaged areas would be extended
additional support for the promotion of Sports and Games;
7. Rural, traditional and indigenous sports would be
accorded special attention and it would be the responsibility
of the Panchayat Institutions with the help of local
youth organisations to develop and maintain infrastructure
for this purpose. The involvement of organised youth
bodies such as youth clubs under the NYKS, the volunteers
of the NSS and the Scouts & Guides in the creation
and maintenance of sports infrastructure will go a long
way in reducing the high cost of such infrastructure;
8. A National Youth Festival will be held each year,
starting at the Block level and culminating at the National
Level;
9. Youth Hostels would be constructed in as many places
of historical and cultural interest as possible, to
promote youth tourism;
10. Youth Organizations devoted to such activities will
be encouraged; and
11. Adventure activities among the youth be promoted
to inculcate qualities of leadership, resilience, courage,
discipline and love for nature and the environment.
8.6.1 Activities connected with Arts and Culture provide
recreation to individuals, sharpen their sensitivities
and afford a vehicle to inculcate desirable ideals and
values. The Policy recognizes the importance of Arts
and Culture in a holistic approach to youth development
and that Young People need to be sensitised to the great
heritage of our country and provided with opportunities
to understand and follow pluralistic forms of culture.
8.6.2 This Policy, therefore, enunciates the following:
1. The youth should be better enabled to imbibe the
rich traditions and culture of India and sensitised
to the need to preserve and enrich this extraordinary
heritage. This will be sought to be achieved inter-alia
through
2. i. inclusion of learning and appreciation of the
country's rich heritage in art, architecture, music
and dance etc. in the educational curricula at the school
level; ii. encouraging and facilitating through financial
assistance in association with concerned State Govt./PRIs
etc., visits to ancient monuments/heritage sites during
which attempt would be made to impress upon the young
people the need for preservation of our ancient heritage
by involving them in voluntary work for cleaning up
the sites and surroundings and educating and motivating
the local youth to protect such monuments against vandalism
etc. The Ministry of Railways and State STUs will be
persuded to offer concessional fares for such organised
educational trips and for organising special services
to such places, particularly during holidays; iii. Encouraging
and facilitating the visits of well known artists to
educational institutions to impart lessons in appreciation
through demonstrations/workshops/performances; iv. Encouraging
and facilitating in association with State Govts./PRIs/NGOs
attendance of young persons at performances by well
known artistes in their respective areas.
3. A National Youth Centre would be established to provide
young people with a common platform where they can express
their opinions and views on various issues concerning
them. Such a Youth Centre will also provide them with
ample scope to give exposure to their creative genius
and abilities in the fields of various cultural expressions
like fine arts, music, theatre, film etc. State Youth
Centres would be established, on similar lines, in the
various States.
8.7.1 As the adaptation of scientific and technological
principles and developments, to maximise the use of
local resources, are central to empowerment in the quality
of life, the Policy recognises the importance of emerging,
modern technologies, particularly in the field of information
technology and electronic media, in enabling the youth
to perform and achieve in all sectors of their interest.
8.7.2 The Policy also recognises that young scientists
and technologists should be extended adequate facilities
for research and that the contribution of the private
sector in this field should be encouraged.
8.7.3 The National Youth Policy, therefore, provides
for:
1. Review of policies in respect of the School Curriculum
and the non-formal education sector so that Science
may be popularised amongst all sections of the youth;
2. Support to providing exposure to the youth to the
scientific temper and way of life;
3. Development of mechanisms within the system to identify
and train gifted youth, as early as possible, in the
fields of science and technology;
4. The best and the most positive use of information
and communications technology, as well as all forms
of media, including the electronic media, for youth
development as well as for promoting and protecting
the richness of our culture;
5. Promoting a multi-sectoral approach involving, inter-alia,
the private sector and NGOs, to orient the youth towards
scientific and technological studies and research;
6. Ensuring co-ordination between the various Government
Ministries/Departments and Scientific Organisations/Institutions
dealing with youth development programmes;
7. Upgrading science curricula in institutions of learning
to inculcate the scientific approach amongst all sections
of the younger generation;
8. Linking the projects of the young scientists to the
problems of the people and ensuring better interaction
between labs and the industry;
9. Documentation of the large repository of physical
and knowledge based resources within the country to
prevent their piracy by vested interests.
8.8.1 Human behaviour is significantly shaped by norms
and values, which are a basis for attitudinal growth.
The dominant features in the Indian Society, which impinge
on the cultural and other values of young people, include
areas such as family life, education, work and occupational
activities, gender, class and ethnic relations, religion,
mass communication, artistic and creative expression,
sports, recreation, politics and the economic environment.
8.8.2 Anti-social behaviour is a manifestation of the
absence of well-accepted values, attitudes and norms
in the individual and in society which can reflect itself
in crime, violent action, breakdown of parental authority
in family life, corruption in public life, obscenity
in the media, indiscipline in schools and in sporting
activities and low productivity at the workplace.
8.8.3 The Policy, therefore, envisages the following
strategies:
1. Embodying instruction in the values like respect for
teachers and parents, adolescent and the aged besides
religious tolerance, and compassion towards the poor and
the needy. The concept of family as the basic and most
important asset of Indian Society will be strengthened.
2. To motivate the youth to resist fragmentation of society
on the basis of caste, religion, language and ethnicity
and for promotion of democratic values enshrined in our
constitution.
3. To mobilise the youth to create local pressure groups
within the community to fight corruption at all levels
and to ensure that the benefits of development reach those
for whom they are intended and are not siphoned of by
middlemen and the powerful.
4. Laying emphasis on the economic and social security
of the youth belonging to underprivileged sections of
our society and those who are mentally and physically
challenged.
This Policy will accord priority to the following groups
of young people:
1. Rural and Tribal Youth;
2. Out-of-school Youth;
3. Adolescents particularly female adolescents;
4. Youth with disabilities;
5. Youth under specially difficult circumstances like
victims of trafficking; orphans and street children.
10. Implementation Mechanism
The Policy envisions the following implementation mechanism:
1. All Ministries/Departments of the Union Government
and the State Governments, particularly in the social
sector will strive to make identifiable allocations
in their budgets for youth development programmes
2. A broad based National Committee on Youth Policy
and Programmes is contemplated to review and assess
various programmes and schemes focusing on youth. It
will also advise the Government on measures for implementation
of the Plan of Action of the National Youth Policy;
3. The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
(with the guidance of this Committee) will be the Nodal
Ministry for all such programmes and schemes and will
oversee the implementation of the provisions of this
Policy;
4. An effective mechanism to coordinate the activities
of the Central Ministries/Departments, the State Governments
and Community and Youth Organisations, would be evolved
in order to facilitate timely execution of youth development
programmes; and
5. A National Youth Development Fund will be created
through contributions, including from Non-Governmental
Organisations, which would be utilised for youth development
activities. Income Tax exemption would be sought for
contribution to the Fund.
11. Review
The National Youth Policy, 2003 would be reviewed after
5 years from the date of commencement of implementation.
