Setting up of a 24x7 helpline, an interaction portal and a talent bank for the youth apart from Swami Vivekananda Youth Empowerment Corporation (SWAYEM) are some of the recommendations made in the Karnataka Youth Policy released by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar here on Thursday.
Brought out by the Department of Youth Services and Sports and Karnataka Knowledge Commission, the policy focusses on those in the age group of 16 to 30.
Objective
Aimed at ensuring inclusiveness for the youth, the policy recommends the setting up of Vivekananda Youth Centres both in urban and rural areas across the State.
This is to engage the youth in a sustained way by providing broad-based opportunities for growth, according to the policy document.
The Chief Minister said that the government would take forward the policy and implement it to empower the State’s 1.90 crore youth.
Vivekananda birth anniversary
“Swami Vivekananda’s 150 birth anniversary, on January 12, will be observed in a befitting manner by organising programmes for the youth. This anniversary celebration will serve as a launching pad for the implementation of the youth policy,” he said.
Appreciating the Steering and Drafting committees and the Sports Authority of Karnataka for having brought out the final policy within two months of submitting a draft policy, the Chief Minister said: “It is notable that these committees ensured an effective and swift process for creating a youth-friendly, youth-sensitive and youth-oriented policy.”
He said that youth empowerment was a priority for the government.
Steps would be initiated to implement the policy in toto, he said.
Sports policy
Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports M.P. Appachu Ranjan said that the Government would soon bring out a sports policy to bring in reservation for sports persons in all sectors, including jobs in private sector. “The youth policy calls for the enunciation of a comprehensive sports policy. A Bill is being planned and we are working on it. It will be placed before the legislature soon,” Mr. Ranjan said.
Women and Child Welfare Minister Kalakappa G. Bandi, Chairperson of Steering Committee for Youth Policy and Vice-Chairman of Karnataka Sports Authority Girish Patel and Chairperson of Drafting Committee Sandeep Shastri were present.
