Lok Sabha Question No. 2719 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-10
Subject: Youth Exchange Programmes
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, SUDHEER GUPTA, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2719 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.05.2016

## YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES

2719. SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with various foreign countries on organizing Youth Exchange Programmes recently;
- (b) If so, the names of countries with which MoU has been signed along with the aims and objectives behind the move;
- (c) the  details  of  terms  and  conditions  of  the  MoUs  along  with benefit that India will get out of these MoUs alongwith the time by which the MoUs will be implemented; and
- (d) the  other  steps  taken  /  being  taken  by  the  Government  to promote  the  exchange  of  ideas  and  values  amongst  youths  of different countries?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a)  and (b) The Department of Youth Affairs endeavours to create an international perspective among the Indian youth in

collaboration  with  other  countries.  In  this  context,  exchange  of Youth Delegations with other countries is taken up on reciprocal basis for promoting exchange of ideas, values and culture amongst youth  of  different  countries  and  also  to  promote  peace  and understanding.  The  terms  and  conditions  for  exchange  of  these Youth delegations are decided by way of Memorandum of Understanding signed between the participating countries.

With the above  objective, the MoUs  with  the  following countries have been signed by the Department of Youth Affairs for exchange of Youth delegations: (i) Bahrain, (ii) Kuwait, (iii) Nepal, (iv) South Korea, (v) Sri Lanka, (vi) Vietnam and (vii) BRICS Nations (Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa). Further, two MOUs signed through  Department  of  Sports  also  provide  exchange  of  Youth delegations  with  the  foreign  countries  viz.  (i)  Mauritius  and  (ii) Maldives.  The  Cultural  Exchange  Programmes  signed  with  Israel and Jordan by Department of Culture also provide for exchange of Youth delegations.

- (c) The broad terms and conditions in the above MoUs are that the  partnering  countries  cooperate  for  exchange  of  Youth  and representative of youth organizations. The sending side bears the expenses for international air travel and travel insurance and the receiving side is responsible for board, lodging and local transportation.  All  the  activities  of  the  MoU  are  subject  to  the budgetary availability of both sides.

These  Exchange  Programmes  provide  an  opportunity  to  the Indian  Youth  to  gain  the  first  hand  experience  of  the  culture, customs, tradition and ethos of the country visited. It also enables the  Indian  Youth  to  establish  direct  one-to-one  contact  with  the Youth of the other country and make friendship with them. This also helps  in  development  of  better  understanding  and  deeper  ties between  the  youths  of  both  the  countries.  The  Indian  Youth  also learn  best  practices  being  implemented  in  different  sectors,  viz. education,  sports,  industry  and  other  technological  advancements and overall progress of the country visited. The  Indian Youth after return to India can implement the best practices evidenced by them in  the  foreign  soil  and  pass  on  the  knowledge  they  have  gained  to others as well.

At present, all the MoUs are in force and are at different stages of implementation.

- (d) Apart  from  these  MoUs,  the  following  activities  are  being organized by the Department of Youth Affairs for exchange of ideas and values amongst youths of different countries:
- (i) An  exchange  of  100-member  Youth  Delegations  with China is taking place on regular basis every year since 2006, on the strength of Joint Statement signed during the visit of Chinese President in 2006 (with exception that during 2011, 500-member delegations were exchanged). In the Joint Statement  issued  on  19.09.2014  on  the  occasion  of  visit  of Chinese  President,  it  has  been  decided  to  exchange  200member youth delegations from 2015 to 2019.
- (ii) On the request received from the Indian High Commissioner,  Bangladesh,  a  100-member  youth  delegation from  Bangladesh  has  been  visiting  India  every  year  since 2012.  This is a joint  programme of  Ministry of Youth Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs.
- (iii)    The Department of Youth Affairs is part of a Commonwealth  Youth  Programme  (CYP)  being  run  by  the Commonwealth to develop the potential, creativity and skills of  the  Youths  as  productive  and  dynamic  members  of  their societies; to participate fully at every  level  of  decision making  development,  both  individually  and  collectively.  The first  Asia  Regional  Commonwealth  Youth  Ministers  Meeting was organized at New Delhi from 27 th  to 30 th  July 2015 where Youth,  officers  and  dignitaries  from  8  countries  (including India) participated and exchanged their ideas.

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