Draft on

Maharashtra/ State Youth Commission/Corporation

Concept and Drafted By

Dhananjay Pushpalata Karvir Thackeray
National Youth Award 2008-09, Government of India
 Maharashtra/ State Youth Commission/ Corporation

 Introduction:

“Great challenge of transforming India can be achieved through

youth which has got the power of ideas, ambition and ability.”
- A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (March 2008)

World’s superpowers are struggling for the young workforce where

our country, India is youngest country in the world and in
Maharashtra there is wide human resources which is youth. But the
fact is this human resources is not utilised in proper way and
grievously youths of our state has neutrality about participation in
government initiatives mainly in supporting good governance and
policy making. Youths are the nation builders and they have capacity
to transform the face of the nation.
The issue is, there should be copula which will cohere the youth and
government together. State Youth Commission can be this copula and
hence the platform which will lead youths towards the proper
direction of nations development. Though there are so many schemes
and programs available for different sections of the society, youths
have negligible scope in this manner. It’s very important to formulate
special programs for developing and shaping youths.
We are aware about the power of youths and also know what they can
do if their power utilised in proper way. Still we are lagging about
providing them a platform which could be useful for representing
their thoughts, ideas and opinion about current system.
There are some common problems which are faced by youths, like
unemployment, lack of skilful and job oriented education, deficient
health and sports facilities and lack of aid for engaging in policy
making, politics and governance.
In order to organise the youths in proper way with achieving the both
goals of their development and nation building, it demands a
powerful focused system comprehend all the youth development
activities under common aegis.
 Youth Commissions in world and in India

If we see the world scenario about interest in setting up youth

commission, it will be astonished to see that only few countries has
their own youth commission which dedicatedly works for the welfare
of youth. Only South Africa, Spain and Philippines have their youth
commissions. This shows the negligence about youth development in
global scenario.
In India, Only 2 states has youth commissions, Kerala State Youth
Commission and Mizoram Youth Commission. It should be
mentioned here that, in 2002, Government of India also tried set up
National Youth Commission under leadership of the then Prime
Minister Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee but due to some reasons the youth
commission wasn’t set up.
 Aim:

To mobilize and organize dynamic youths of state for resolution of

problems of community and to undertake issues pertaining to their
constructive development and hence to utilise this power for overall
sustainable development of nation.

 Objectives:

1. To formulate skilled and flourished youths especially from rural

and tribal areas.
2. To devise young generation for their perennial and overall
development.
3. To mould energetic young human resources for sustainable
development of community.
4. To manoeuvre competent youths in policy making, involvement
in different welfare activities of government for nation building.
5. To make available platform on national and international level.

 Functions of the Commission:

1. Cluster sector wise data of youths in state. (age, education, field,

economical condition)
2. Appointing experts for different sectors.
3. Formulation of policies and programs according to clustered data
with the help of experts.
4. Formation of Youth Hubs at different levels
5. Engagement and coordination for implementing policies with
Universities, College, Institutes, Government and Non-
government organisations at state, national and international level,
NYKS, NSS, NCC, MCC, NGC and United Nations.
6. Coordination with Youth Affairs and Sports ministries at state and
central to ensure
7. Implementing schemes and programs by government and non-
government organisations for youth at different levels.
8. Monitoring sector-wise training of youths at different levels.
9. Formulation of different programs with the help of all engaged
systems.
10. Monitoring implementation of all the programs.

 Mode of Operation:

Youth

Rural
Women Development

Farmers

Mainly for sectors are focused in operation,

1. Youth
2. Women
3. Farmers
4. Rural Development.

Different initiatives and programs will be formed for different sectors

mentioned above. Youth will be centre which will implement these
programs for women, farmers and rural development.
There will be initiatives and programs for youths which will
simultaneously include women, farmers and rural development.
These programs and initiatives will be as follows:

1. Innovation Forum:

A platform will be formed for promising youth leaders for giving

them chance to present their different ideas for welfare of the
community and development of the nation.
A program will be formed where the eminent personalities and
institutes will be available for making these things happen into
reality. (Concept like ‘SHARK TANK’)

2. Internships, Fellowships and Scholarships:

For creating strong future leaders, they will be given chance to

do an internship with Ministers, MPs, MLAs, Eminent
Politicians etc. This will help them in understanding politics in
better way and will form army of strong future leaders for
betterment of politics. (Ex: LAMP Fellowship)
Another program for developing administrative skills in youths
will be fellowship with different departments of government.
This will help them in understanding how the government
system works and will create enabled administrative officers.
(Ex: Internship with Planning Commission).
For developing skilful youths scholarships will be given which
will form the trained and skilled employees for different sectors.
This will be useful for creating jobs and employment for youths.

3. Youth Exchange Programs:

Youth Exchange programs at different levels will be organised

by taking support of Youth Affairs ministries at State and
Centre, NYKS, NSS, United Nations, Commonwealth Youth
Programs government and non-government organisations at
national and international level. This will broaden their view
 about people and will get chance to explore the world and help
them in developing their personality.
At present there are so many youth exchange programs are there,
we can collaborate with them.

4. Youth Festivals:

For giving the platform to artists, at present there is no any such

program by government. By organising the youth festival at
district and state level, youths will get chance to explore them
and to show their talent to the world.

5. Youth Entrepreneurship Development:

In this program, we will undertake target oriented programs for

development of new and enhancement of existing skills to cater
for the need of the youth in the specific area/ regions. These
programs will also envisage training for foreign job makers
where youth can get jobs. Youths (especially from rural and
tribal areas) will be given training under skill development
programs by taking support of NSDC and Skill Development
Department. This will form skilled and trained youths in
different sectors.
Entrepreneurship assist and support the youth in establishing
self-employment businesses and start-up of new companies/
ventures. This will also include agricultural skills, by which
they get knowledge of modern agricultural techniques and hence
the agro food processing will be possible. For setting up Agro
Processing Industries on small and medium level, Ministry of
Food Processing Industries, Department of Industries, Ministry
of Small, Medium Enterprise and other relevant departments
will be helpful. This will be done by formation of FPOs/FPCs of
unemployed young farmers.
For making this happen we can collectively implement some
schemes for one objective. Ex. By forming the FPO of young
unemployed farmers, we can start the Dairy Development
program using the schemes of Animal Husbandry and Dairy
Department. For milk processing, SME Ministry and MoFPI can
help and for marketing the product we can have collaboration
 with leading dairy companies like Mother Dairy, AAREY,
Mahananda or can form a brand.

6. Youth Hubs:

Youth Hubs will be formed at Taluka, District and State level

which will consists of promising young leaders who will help in
implementing programs and initiatives of commission. Youth
Hubs at different levels will represent youths of the respective
areas. These youth hubs will be directly connected to
commission and hence the feedback given by these youth hubs
will be directly given to government.
These Youth Hubs will also promote schemes, programs and
initiatives of the government and also help government in
implementing the same.
All the initiatives of government will be implemented
effectively by these Youth Hubs.

7. Women Empowerment Program:

Women Empowerment refers to strengthening the social,

economic and educational powers of women. It refers to an
environment where there is no gender bias and have equal rights
in community, society and workplaces.
The empowerment of women would result in overall
development of society both at micro and macro level. Active
participation of women in economic activities and decisions,
would contribute towards overall economic development.

Women Empowerment
a) Women Health
b) Women Entrepreneurship
c) Women Literacy
d) Violence against women
e) Women Leadership
Different programs will be formed and implemented for above
sectors.

For health related issues, we can organize awareness programs

like Workshops, Seminars, Public Rallies, Social Media Drive,
Handbook/Information Booklets etc.

Menstrual Health:

1. Awareness Campaign in rural and tribal areas.

2. Establishing PAD Bank & appeal for ‘Changing Rooms’.
3. PADMAN Volunteer Program.
4. Establishing the SNs Manufacturing unit run by rural and
tribal women on self-sustainable mode by supporting initially
for stabilisation.
5. Using Eco-friendly technologies for disposal of SNs.

Menstruation is still a taboo in India and it is common for people

across society to feel uncomfortable about the subject.
As for awareness, a UNICEF study shows that about 83 percent
of Indian girls had no idea what to expect when they started
bleeding. Even those using traditional cloth pads at the onset of
puberty were hesitant to wash and dry them in sunlight, which
is necessary to ward off infections. Worst condition is, mud, cow
dung, leaves, ash, sawdust, sand, Newspaper, plastic bags, Strips
of sari, towel, bed sheets, or other types of cloth old &
unhygienic cloths, Tissue, toilet paper are used during menstrual
cycle which causes infection and ultimately cervical cancer.
So, awareness about menstrual health should be done in rural
and tribal areas. It is necessary to provide SNs to rural and tribal
women of society at negligible rate. It is also necessary to
dispose SNs in eco-friendly way.
The PAD Bank is unique initiative by which SNs will be
collected and will be distributed among needy girls and women
of downtrodden society. It will be in both ways one can donate
either SNs or specific amount equal to number of SNs. A wide
campaign will be initiated for reaching this message in society.
For the awareness campaign, we will use different media like
electronic, press and social media. Handbooks, leaflets, short
films will also be used.
Awareness seminars, workshops will be conducted by expert
organisation working in this field for years. Government support
will also be taken for the same.
Girls and Women who are willingly prepared for this campaign
will also be involved in PADMAN Volunteer Program.
Support from Government, Organisations, Institutions,
Colleges, Schools, Celebrities and eminent personalities will
also be taken.
When women menstruates, it is difficult for her to change SN
when she is out. Hence, we will appeal to Schools, Colleges,
government & corporate offices to arrange separate Changing
Room having enough
SNs over there. This will reduce dropout rate in schools &
colleges and will be convenient for working women.
The key barrier to usage of commercial sanitary napkins is often
the price, and in very remote areas also the access. To overcome
this barrier, low-cost napkins, which are locally produced by
self-help groups, or by girls and women themselves are a good
option.
With the support of Government, national and international level
organisations, SNs Manufacturing unit can be established. It can
be sustainable only if it is run independently by women and girls
only.
It can be a cluster of villages or specific areas in which the SNs
manufacturing unit will be centralised.
Some full time employees will be required for this but
voluntarily work of girls and women will also help in running it
successfully. College or school going girls can give their time
for this unit whenever they want.
A low cost sanitary napkin incinerator, which is called as the
Ashudhdhinashak will be used in our project. This works
without harming the environment and of course the human
health and also costs very low.
Project ‘SHUDDHI’ aims for the welfare of rural and tribal
women in aspects like menstrual health and hygiene, awareness,
entrepreneurship, pollution free environment and protecting
 human health. All these goals will be achieved by the Project
‘SHUDDHI’. Within a year, good effects go this project can be
seen. This project is important for the Women Empowerment in
real manner and community development will be done through
this project.

Like the above initiative we can formulate and implement many

effective programs in the society.

8. National and International Cooperation Cell:

This cell will coordinate and implement youth related programs

of different national and international organisations like United
Nations, Commonwealth Youth Caucus etc. This cell will select
eligible youths from state for the various programs organised by
these organisations.
At present, there are so many initiatives of UN especially for
youths. These initiatives can bring change in the society and
youths can be change makers. It should also mention that the
SDGs can be achieved for the state by the establishment of this
cell.

9. Youth Development Institute:

There is only institute like this, Rajiv Gandhi National Institute

of Youth Development in Sriperumbudur, Chennai, Tamilnadu
by Government of India. YDI will advance the positive
development of young people by promoting the principles and
practices that enable them to thrive.
By this institute young people of our state will receive high
quality services, supports and opportunities that foster their
assets, build healthy community connections, strengthen their
skills and competencies, and prepare them to transition
successfully into adulthood.
YDI will lead the field in promoting Positive Youth
Development in state by developing innovative program
models, serving as a technical assistance provider to numerous
state and national initiatives, supporting organisations to bolster
 their youth development programming, and providing
organizational development support.
Unfortunately, our state has no such institute which is fully
dedicated to youth development.
10. Farmers Welfare Initiatives:

At present, government has done so many initiatives,

implemented so many programs for the welfare of farmers, but
these schemes and programs are not effective till it reach to the
each and every beneficiary. Also farmers should have the
knowledge and realisation of the efforts taken by the government
for them.
The aim of the government is to double the income of farmers.
Youth Commission will take this initiative on priority and will
organise young farmers who will take responsibility to develop
farming sector and will upgrade the farming to next level. They
will be promoters and implementer of government initiatives at
grass root level. Government by their innovative schemes and
programs will support these young farmers for training, skill
development, grants for agro processing and marketing. This will
achieve the goal of doubling the income farmers and will shape
the rural based industries and hence young farmer industrialists.

These are some initiatives which will be implemented by the

SYC. After the suggestions and demands by youths and experts,
we can add many initiatives and programs which will be
beneficial for youths.

At the conclusion, it should be mention here that, for

sustainable development of the state and community,
for promoting the efforts done by government for
welfare of the people and for overall development of
any individual youth, the Youth Commission is must be
there because if the youth is empowered, the
community will and hence the nation will be
empowered.
 YOUTH DEVELOPMENT means to foster the Passion
within them. Commit to them that you will lead them into a
revolution that will change the following:

1. Universal Education
2. Economic Uplifting
3. Urban Housing
4. Environment & Sustainability
5. Social Equality
6. Women Activism

One point that's very pertaining the youth is that If you visit any
University in Maharashtra, you wouldn't even know that
elections to its student council take place every September.

The once-vibrant elections have been reduced to a formality

with candidates chosen by colleges on the basis of academic
merit and reservation.

These elections are not a true representation of all students, for

eg. In Mumbai University only 15 students from around 380
colleges are selected by the university. And we know this
process can be influenced by Pvt. College owners, who come
from Political Blessings. Eg. Bharti.

Unlike elections to the Delhi University Student's Union

(DUSU), characterised by fervent campaigning, college students
in Maharashtra are not even aware when university elections are
on. "In 1992, elections moved from colleges gates into libraries.
Students are now selected according to their academic
performance,"

This is the main cause of lacklustre performance of

Maharashtrian Youth as Politicians & Youth.
Leadership is about reaching people, working for a common
cause and getting a consensus through elections. This format
will breed leaders who think a survey, fact finding and X-Y axis
graph is going to improve our nation.

The current scenario is a far cry from the student politics culture
seen between the 1970s and early nineties. When I was a student
myself.

Campus movements worldwide were intensely engaged with

issues and events such as socialism, communism, the Vietnam
war, the Emergency in India and the collapse of the Berlin wall.

"We belong to a generation when, elections were contested with

enthusiasm. Student leaders were automatically pulled into party
politics".

Some people think that, Students should only focus on

academics. They can vote in the general elections, if they want
to but these are the kind of people who want youth to only follow
them, we, I personally want to see the youth leading us, opening
new horizons and perspectives in Civics and Politics. Violence
can be prevented with a code of conduct. If violence is the reason
to ban elections, why are pubs, bars, discotheques so rampant in
Mumbai, Pune, which have become centres of youngsters
picking a fight?

Unlike students of our times, who mostly had socialist leanings,

today's students are focused on their careers. If they can vote in
the general elections, they should be allowed to vote in the
university elections.

"Only via elections can students tell the management their

grievances, absence of elections has led to degradation in
education standards and morality of our institutes".

And if our leaders feel that at 18 our youth is allowed to drive a

car, vote for MP's and MLA, get married, raise a family, apply
for a loan and file taxes independently, then they definitely have
the sense, capability and right to choose Their Representatives
in Their Institutes.

Remember for student leaders especially those in rural India, the

elections are a ticket to state and national politics. Politicians
like Mohan Rawale, Narendra Verma, Nitin Gadkari, Gurudas
Kamat and Raj Thackeray began their careers as student leaders.

In Urban areas student get a chance to show their leadership

through National Seminars, Debate/Elocution competitions,
College Fest, MUN, etc. But Elections was and will be the only
shot at leadership for students in Rural Areas, if you don't give
them this opportunity, they will end up as blind followers to
leaders that have come up through corruption and nepotism,
which is a fact today and has made our government and
administration weak. We want India to be strong give college
students in Bharat a right to vote for their college and university
representatives. The Largest democracy with the Largest Youth
Population demands this