2013-14 Declared the Year for Skill Development of the Youth
Parliamentary Consultative Committee Attached to Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Meets

A meeting of the Consultative Committee chaired by Shri Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs & Sports, was held here today to discuss the National Youth Policy-2012.

Addressing the meeting, Shri Jitendra Singh said that this is of extreme relevance as the current year is being observed as the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, who is the youth icon of the Country. This will be a befitting tribute by declaring the Youth Policy of the Country. The goal of the Youth Policy is to empower the youth of the Nation by bringing a holistic development, whereby every youth should be able to grow to their potential, fulfill their aspirations and remain healthy and active and participative. As skill development is the thrust of the Nation and following the national objectives, Ministry of Youth Affairs is proposing to declare 2013-14 as the Year for Skill Development of the Youth.

The Minister said that Youth are not a homogenous group. The Youth Policy proposes to follow the age group of the UN and Commonwealth youth age criteria of 16-30 years. The target groups are Student Youth, Urban Youth, Rural Youth, Tribal Youth, Youth at risk, Youth in conflict, Youth out of school, Youth with Social stigma and Youth in Institutional Care. The priority groups are young women, socially and economically disadvantaged Youth and differently-abled Youth.

Shri Jitendra Singh said that the unique feature of the Youth Policy is monitorable indicators under 5 domains. They are Youth Health Index, Youth Education Index, Youth Amenities Index and Youth Participation Index. These constitute the Youth Development Index. The Youth Policy advocates establishment of strong coordination mechanism between the Centre and the States. Youth being a State Subject, there is an urgent need for evolving a youth Policy at the State level in consonance with National Youth Policy. The National Youth Policy will be reviewed after every census.