CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ATTACHED TO
THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS MEETS
The Union Minister
for Youth Affairs & Sports, Shri Vikram Verma chaired the
Consultative Committee meeting attached to the Ministry of Youth
Affairs & Sports here today. The meeting was held to discuss
the Scheme of Financial Assistance for Promotion of Youth Activities
and Training.
The Minister informed
that the Scheme of Financial Assistance for Promotion of Youth
Activities and Training is an umbrella scheme formed after the
merger of four relating schemes existing earlier. The scheme has
following components : a) vocational training and (b) entrepreneurship
development and (c) exhibition. The Minister informed that under
the scheme State Governments, Education Institutions, Nehru Yuva
Kendra, Panchayati Raj Institutions and NGOs could apply for financial
assistance provided they had completed at least 3 years on the
date of application. 648 such proposals have been received till
date but due to paucity of funds only 80 have been cleared so
far.
The Minister
while speaking on the occasion said that after training, loans
are being made available to the youth through Advisory Committee
headed by district collectors. Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangthan with
its wide network of 2lakh youth clubs and presence in 500 districts
will be playing a supporting role in the future for availing of
loans.
The Minister also
announced that a Sports Congress will be organised towards the
end of August where all Sports Ministers will be invited to take
part to discuss matters for the welfare of the Youth. He also
urged the Finance Ministry to increase the budget so that different
schemes could be better implemented. The total of approved outlay
for the 10th plan under the scheme is Rs. 35 crores
of which the current years allocation is Rs. 8 crores. He also
felt that schemes for rural areas should be encouraged.
The Members present
included : Shri Vanlal Zawna, Shri Ramdas Athawale, Shri Samik
Lahiri and Prof. I.G. Sanadi, all Members of Parliament and senior
officials of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and Sports
Authority of India.
