Chennai: Tamil Nadu has emerged as the first state in the country to initiate discussions on the National Youth Policy 2014, said Latha Pillai, director of Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) in Sriperumbudur which has spearheaded the formulation of the policy.
The youth policy was released in February this year, after nationwide consultation, with its draft piloted by RGNIYD in 2012.
Briefing reporters about a one-day seminar on the National Youth Policy 2014, scheduled for Friday in Anna University, Dr. Pillai on Wednesday said, “With a large number of youth in our country, it is imperative that there are state level policies. In this backdrop, it was encouraging to see Tamil Nadu expressing interest to hold the discussion, which will subsequently be hosted by Sikkim, she said.
“The seminar will focus on employability, education, healthy lifestyle, promotion of social values and entrepreneurship. The objective is to bring about a convergence among various stakeholders, who are undertaking initiatives in youth development,” Pillai said.
P.A. Viswanathan of the DHAN Foundation, a partner in organizing the seminar, said, “There is abundant potential in our younger generation.” He said the foundation had first started youth related activities in Alanganallur near Madurai with about 20 groups which has now increased to 50 with more than 1,000 members involved in issues like health and education. He added that the focus of the seminar should be to alleviate youth migration from rural to urban areas by promoting employment opportunities.
