Imphal, July 18: Members of the House today defeated a Private Member's Resolution moved by Opposition MLAs O Joy and Dr Nimaichand Luwang through voice vote during the after session of the Assembly.

The Private Member's Resolution relates to pressuring the Government for formulation of a youth policy and institution of a Manipur Youth Development Authority.

Fire brand Opposition leader O Joy strongly contended that the resolution should not be withdrawn as the statement given by the Youth Affairs and Sports Minister A Aza lacks sincerity and the answer given by the Minister is not in keeping with the spirit of the resolution.

He stuck to his gun by saying that he would agree to withdraw the resolution only if an assurance is given for constituting a House Committee to look into the matter first.

However, the resolution was finally passed by voice vote.

Moving the resolution, Joy maintained that for solving the problem of the law and order in the State effectively, State Government should formulate a Youth policy of the State.

The population of youth between the age group of 15 to 35 years of age is around 8 lakhs and there are 4,23,000 unemployed youths who have registered their names at various employment exchanges till April this year.

Joy said.

For properly channelising the potentials of these frustrated youths by encouraging them to take active part in nation building process would be able to bring peace in the society, institution of a Youth Development Authority is necessary.

Joy said.

Giving his reply to the discussion of the Private Member's Resolution, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh admitted that the most intriguing task of the Government is to provide employment opportunity to the teeming population of youths of the State.

Initiatives have been already taken up to draft a youth policy and suggestion would be welcome in this regard, Ibobi said, requesting for withdrawal of the resolution.

Youth Affairs and Sport Minister A Aza said that though the prevalence of problems of youths could not be denied, it would be wrong to say that it is affecting the law and order of the State in a big way.

Nevertheless, to solve the problems of youths, he said the department has been seeking the help of other departments for formulating a youth policy.

Enumerating on programmes being taken up by his department for the development of youths, Aza said that youth activities problems are being organized at different parts of the State with appointment of 72 Youth Officers.

Youth Hostel have been set up at Ukhrul and Imphal and plans are afoot for opening youth hostels in other districts too.