The Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) in the district is busy preparing to implement the annual action plan of 2013-14 according to the new guidelines. District coordinator Jain George said the NYKS has immense potential in a district like Ernakulam.
“There was some delay in fund allotment and hence preparation of a comprehensive action plan. But the Central Government has released general guidelines recently. Based on the spirit of the guidelines, each district will develop its own programmes,” George said.
NYKS, that was established in 1972, is currently functioning in 623 districts in the country.
The NYKS has a network of 2.62 lakh village-level youth clubs with a a membership of 80 lakh youth in the age group of the 13-35 years.
According to the new guidelines, in addition to its own rural youth core programmes, NYKS has to take “programmes and schemes in convergence with various other Central ministries, state departments, United Nations Organisation and other agencies for the development and empowerment of the rural youth”.
“This year, our focus will be on issues and problems confronting rural youth with emphasis on their development and empowerment for a sustainable livelihood and voluntary partnership in nation-building activities,” George said.
In this fiscal, NYKS has identified priority areas to be addressed. These are skill development, women empowerment, poverty eradication, etc.