Correspondent
KOHIMA, FEBRUARY 21
Joining the nationwide formal launch of the government of India’s recently approved introduction of National Youth Policy 2014 (NYP-2014) and the implementation of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhivan (RGKA) on Friday, the state Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) organized a brief launching programme at the Indoor Stadium, Kohima followed by an awareness rally till Local Ground (Khouciezie), Kohima. Students from seventeen NSS affiliated colleges and four schools took part in the programme, which was graced by SDO (C) Sadar, Kohima, Wennyei Konyak as the chief guest.
In his brief address before flagging off the rally, the chief guest expressed appreciation that such policy and scheme focused on the youth are being brought out. He expressed hope that it will motivate and nurture the youth not only in the discipline of sports but also contribute to all round development of their social lives as the youth of today are the future leaders.
Earlier in the programme, NYKS Nagaland zonal director, Jackie Ruivah delivered the keynote address and highlighted the main features of NYP-2014 and RGKA.
Replacing the earlier youth policy started during the NDA regime in 2003, the new NYP-2014 is being introduced for all round development and empowerment of the youth between the ages of 15 to 29 in India. Under the new policy, five well-defined objectives and eleven priority areas have been identified, including education, skill development and employment, entrepreneurship, health and healthy lifestyle, sports, promotion of social values, community engagement, participation in politics and governance, youth engagement, inclusion and social justice.
As for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhivan (RGKA), this scheme is aimed to provide all necessary infrastructure and facilities for promotion of sports in the country, envisaging over 6,500 sports complexes in every rural block of the country. Each sports complex, at an estimated cost of Rs1.75 crore, is to have 11 outdoor and 5 indoor games with flexibility for local games, three coaches, sports equipments worth Rs15 lakh, youth resource centre and provision for self defence training, especially for women. The objective of the scheme is to promote sports as a way of life among the youth, increase access to sports facilities, conduct sports competitions across the country to identify talent and to encourage achievement of excellence in sports.
