Lok Sabha Question No. 43 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-22
Subject: Harnessing the Potential of Youth
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne, Shri Dharmendra Yadav, Shri Omprakash Bhupalsinh Alias Pavan Rajenimbalkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 43 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22/07/2024

Harnessing the Potential of Youth

43.  Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne:

Shri Dharmendra Yadav:

Shri Omprakash Bhupalsinh Alias

Pavan Rajenimbalkar:

Will  the  Minister  of  YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government is aware that an estimated 254 million of the Indian population are between the age of 15-24 years;
- b) if so, whether there is a need to harness the potential of youth for nation-building and economic development;
- c) if so, the details of the schemes implemented by the Government to train the youth in leadership skills and the spirit of volunteerism;
- d) whether the schemes implemented by the Government to train youth have not yielded the expected results;
- e) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and
- f) the corrective measures taken or being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

(a) Yes, Sir. The Technical Group on Population Projection, constituted by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) in their report projected the population of youth in the age group of 1524 years for quinquennial years 2021 and 2026 as approximately 252 million and 241 million respectively.

(b)  and  (c)    Yes,  Sir.  In  order  to  harness  this potential  and  to optimally tap constructive and creative energies of the youth, the Department of Youth Affairs under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports,  pursues  the  twin  objectives  of  personality-building  and nation-building,  that  is,  developing  the  personality  of  youth  and involving them in various nation-building activities through its field organizations and various schemes. For example National Service Scheme  (NSS)  is  engaged  in  developing  the personality  and character  of  the  student  youth  through  voluntary  community service. 'Education through Service' is the purpose of the NSS.

Similarly, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) through its various programmes and interventions is reaching out to the rural youth for their empowerment and civic engagement.

Moreover, recently, an overarching enabling mechanism- Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), an autonomous body under the Department of Youth  Affairs  was  launched  on  31.10.2023  by  the  Hon'ble  Prime Minister. MY Bharat is powered by technology, for youth development and  youth  led  development  through  'Kartavya  Bodh'  and  'Seva Bhaav', during the Amrit Kaal.

A digital platform for MY Bharat (https://www.mybharat.gov.in/) has been developed on which the youth across the country can register and  signup  for  various  volunteering  opportunities  being  made available on the portal. The Leadership Development for the Youth is also envisioned through the platform by improving their leadership

skills through experiential learning by shifting from isolated physical interaction  to  programmatic  skills,  make  them  social  innovators, leaders in the communities and set the focus of the Government on Youth Led development and to make the Youth 'active drivers' of development and not merely 'passive recipients'. The envisioned ecosystem is to empower young individuals to become catalysts for community transformation.

(d) The schemes of the Government are yielding fruitful results. For instance, the MYBharat Portal of the Department has crossed over 1.51 crores registrations since its launch.

(e) & (f)  Does not arise in view of reply to point (d) above.

*****