Imphal, September 13, 2010: A two-day workshop on 'Draft State Youth Policy' has begun from today at Hotel Classic here.

Being organised under the auspices of Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, the inaugural function of the workshop was attended by Education Minister L Jayantakumar as chief guest, Tribal Development Minister DD Thaisii as president and Youth Affairs and Sports Minister N Biren as guest of honour.

Speaking at the occasion, Minister Jayantakumar observed that the efforts being made to bring out a Youth Policy of the State and pay special attention to the needs of the youth is in the right direction.

Youth Affairs and Sports has drafted the policy in consultation with experts.

But to make it complete and successful, co-operation of all the Departments is essential.

TD Minister DD Thaisii pointed out that youth have been affected the most in the prevailing social unrest and it is also the youth who are in the forefront of this social unrest.

It is unfortunate that we have not been able to give proper direction to the youth.

So, formulation and implementation of a policy for the development of youth should be the responsibility of all.

Minister Biren noted that the draft policy brought out by the Youth Affairs and Sports Department is not the final and the public should discuss and analyse the draft report so as to take care of anything that may be left out.

The policy would be implemented only after the Cabinet has discussed and approved it, he added.

In the technical session of the workshop held with L Sarat, consultant of Indian AIDS Consortium, editor of Ereibak daily Irengbam Arun and freelance journalist Salam Rajesh presented talks as resource persons.

Irengbam Arun observed that though the State Youth Policy has to be formulated within the existing National Youth Policy, the problems and issues related to youth residing in an armed conflict zone like Manipur should not be forgotten.

The policy should make it clear what type of youth is to be nurtured.

He also suggested that the draft policy brought out by the Youth Affairs and Sports should be reviewed by a committee set up for the purpose specifically.

In the Draft State Youth Policy, all the individuals within the age group of 13 to 35 years have been described as youth and according to the 2001 Census, of the total population of 23,88,634, youth constituted 8,83,795 in Manipur.

Four main objectives have been laid down for the State Youth Policy.

These include providing proper education and training facilities to the youth, inculcating moral and social responsibility, dignity of labour and self employment.

Youth empowerment, inter-sectoral approach, enforcement and resource network are the three thrust areas that have been given for achieving the laid down objectives.

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