Lok Sabha Question No. 1632 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-10
Subject: Yuva Connect Programme
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Ms Kangna Ranaut, Dr. Nishikant Dubey, Shri Damodar Agrawal, Smt. Smita Uday Wagh, Shri Balabhadra Majhi, Smt. Himadri Singh, Shri Manoj Tiwari

## Government of India

## Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1632

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2025

## Yuva Connect Programme

## †1632. Shri Damodar Agrawal:

Shri Manoj Tiwari:

Smt. Himadri Singh:

Dr. Nishikant Dubey:

Ms Kangna Ranaut:

Shri Balabhadra Majhi:

Smt. Smita Uday Wagh:

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

- (a) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to extend the access of National Service Scheme and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan to more  and  more  students  and  youths,  particularly  to  those  residing  in deprived/backward  areas  including  Jalgaon  Lok  Sabha  Constituency  of Maharashtra State;
- (b) the manner in which the ambitions and challenges of those residing in the  rural  and  remote  areas  of  the  Country  are  likely  to  be  met  through "Viksit  Bharat  Ambassador-Yuva  Connect"  programme  being  run  by  the Government;
- (c) whether the Government is planning to integrate the values like critical thinking  and  civic  engagements  in  the  curriculum  of  the  educational institutions as a part of or by the said programme, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the specific initiatives being undertaken by the Government to promote sports and youth engagement programmes in districts like Jalgaon, with an emphasis on grassroots participation; and
- (e) the allocation of funds  and resources for strengthening youth development  programmes  in  Maharashtra,  particularly  in  Jalgaon  Lok Sabha Constituency?

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

- (a) Steps have been taken by the Government to extend the access of National  Service  Scheme  (NSS)  through  MY  Bharat  (Mera  Yuva  Bharat) Portal.    The  portal  provides  an  overarching  institutional  mechanism powered by technology for youth development and youth-led development. MY Bharat's digital platform provides equitable access to opportunities for youth to actualize their aspirations and build Viksit Bharat. It is designed to cater to the needs of the dynamic youth demographic, aged between 15 and  29  years.  This  platform  offers  a  wealth  of  resources,  mentorship programs,  experiential  learning  opportunities,  networks,  and  invaluable industry connections. It acts as a springboard, propelling young individuals towards realising their aspirations while simultaneously equipping them to be the architects of change within their communities. In Maharashtra there are 387115 Volunteers enrolled in NSS.  The data pertaining to the Jalgaon Lok Sabha Constituency is as under:
- (i)  NSS Volunteers registered under funded NSS units in Jalgaon - 7950 (ii) NSS Volunteers registered under Self Finance NSS units in Jalgaon 1360

Further,  Nehru  Yuva  Kendra  Sangathan  (NYKS)  through  its  623  District Nehru Yuva Kendras across the country organizes programmes viz. Core Programmes,  Special  Programmes,  Schemes  of  Department  of  Youth Affairs and projects in collaboration with other Ministries to improve and develop the youth empowerment and leadership.  The principal objective of NYKS is to mobilize, motivate, organize youth of the country and enhance their  capacities  to  develop  democratic  institutional  mechanisms  in  the form of village-based Youth Clubs, empower them to become productive and responsible citizens, assume local leadership to act as active partners in  the  process  of  community development and nation building activities with the spirit of equity and volunteerism.

The details of programmes organized by NYKS across the country including Jalgaon Constituency of Maharashtra State during the last 2 years are as under:

- (I)  Core Programmes :
1. Youth Club Development Programme
2. Local Theme Based Workshops
3. Observance of Days of National Importance
4. Village Cluster Level Sports Meet/Block Level Sports Meet
5. Promotion of Sports (Sports Material to Youth Clubs)
6. Skill Based Entrepreneurship Programme
7. Mission Life
8. Mega Programme on National Youth Day
9. National Road Safety Week
10. MY Bharat - Viksit Bharat Nari Shakti Fitness Runs (Block level)
11. Intensive Voter Awareness and Registration Drive
12. District Level Yuva Utsav
13. MY Bharat - Viksit Bharat Declamation Contest
14. Meri Maati Mera Desh Programme
- (II) Special Programme:
- Clean India
- (III) Scheme of Department of Youth Affairs:
- Neighbourhood Youth Parliament
- (IV) Project with the support of various Ministries and Departments:
- Catch the Rain
- (b) The Viksit Bharat Ambassador - Yuva Connect programme is aimed at  fostering  youth  engagement  and  leadership  in  the  developmental transformation  of  India  by  conducting  the  programmes  in  Educational Institutions with participation of students from all walks of life including those  residing  in  rural  and  remote  areas.  This  is  an  interactive  session between  youth  and  an  eminent  personality  about  public  issues  that concern the youth. In this program there are various presentations followed by question and answer round with students by the Chief Guests.
- (c) Presently, no such proposal is under consideration.
- (d) The  specific  initiatives  being  undertaken  by  the  Government  to promote  youth  engagement  programmes  in  districts  including  Jalgaon, with an emphasis on grassroots participation during the current year are as under:
- 1.
- Observance of Days of National Importance
2. Block Level Sports Events
- 3.
- Promotion of Sports (Sports Material to Youth Clubs)
- 4.
- National Road Safety Week
5. District Level Yuva Utsav
- 6.
- Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Campaign
- 7.
- Swachhta Hi Seva - Cleanliness Campaign
8. Diwali with MY Bharat
- 9.
- Inter District Youth Exchange Programme
10. Awareness and Education Programme on Drug-addiction and Substance Abuse

Further, 'Sports' being a State subject, the responsibility of development and  encouragement  of  sports  in  the  country,  including  Jalgaon,  rests primarily  with  the  State/Union  Territory  Governments,  and  the  Central Government only supplements their efforts. However, the Government is running  various  sports  promotional  schemes  across  the  country.  These schemes include:

- (i) Khelo India- National Programme for Development of Sports;
- (ii) Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs);
- (iii)  Cash  Awards  to  Winners  in  International  Sports  Events  and  their Coaches;
- (iv) National Sports Awards;
- (v) Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons;
- (vi) Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Sports Welfare Scheme;
- (vii) National Sports Development Fund (NSDF); and
- (viii)  Running  Sports  Training  Centres  through  Sports  Authority  of  India
- (SAI). Details of these schemes are available in the public domain on the website of the Ministry at https://yas.nic.in/.

Under the 'Creation and upgradation of sports infrastructure' component of  the  Khelo  India  Scheme,  this  Ministry  renders  financial  support  for creation of sports infrastructure. The details of the sports infrastructure sanctioned under Khelo India Scheme, across the country, including in the

State of Maharashtra are available in public domain on the dashboard of the Ministry at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in.

(e)   Against the total allocation of Rs. 412.00 crore under NYKS scheme for FY 2024-25 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, funds to the tune of  Rs.22.48  crore  have  been  allocated  for  the  offices  of  NYKS  in Maharashtra, which includes Rs.0.88 crore allocated to meet establishment  and  programme  expenses  of  the  office  of  Nehru  Yuva Kendra, Jalgaon.

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