In this Issue of ICYO-Youth Information:

Ø       New Indian Government promise for more focus on Youth Development.

Ø       Indian Rail Ministry announces schemes for girl child and young people.

q       Yuva (Youth)Trains

q       Free rail passes for Students

q       Only Ladies Special

Ø       Youth speak out to International Leaders

Coming Events:

Ø        International Youth Day 2009 - Sustainability: Our Challenge, Our Future

Ø        Dignity for all – Campaign

 

No. 2009/25

New Indian Government promise for more focus on Youth Development

 

The new Indian Government took charge with the commitment for consolidation of the existing programmes for Employment, Education, and Health that directly affects the YOUNG PEOPLE.

 

On 4th June 2009, Honourable President of India, Mrs Pratibha Singh Patil address the joint session of both houses parliament.

 

Mrs Patil assured the house that new government on concerted action for the welfare of women, youth, children, other backward classes, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, minorities, the differently-abled and the elderly along with strengthened social protection.

 

The government will be on making quality education a right through the enactment of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education. The new government will take several measures to promotion for middle and higher education.

 

Mrs. Patil mentioned that over 50 percent of India’s population is below 25 years of age and their creative energy is greatest strategic resource for country. “The challenge is to invest in their education, employability and employment. India has the capacity to contribute to a fourth of the global work force if it invests in skill development of its youth. Education which provides employable skills holds the key for equal opportunities for Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Minorities.”

 

Besides making massive investment in education, new government will focus on the national skill development initiative that has commenced operation with the very ambitious goal of creation of 500 million skilled people by 2022 so that we realize the demographic dividend.

 

Under river cleaning programme, the Voluntary National Youth Corps which could take up creative social action around the river cleaning and beautification programme beginning with the river Ganga.

 

’Enabling non government organizations in the area of development action seeking government support through a web-based transaction on a government portal in which the status of the application will be transparently monitorable.”

 

In final word of her speech Mrs Patil said “Our young people are tearing down the narrow domestic walls of religion, region, language, caste, and gender that confine them. The nation must invest in their hope. My Government will ensure that its policies for education and science and technology are imbued with a spirit of innovation so that the creativity of a billion people is unleashed. The next ten years would be dedicated as a Decade of Innovation. It may be a symbolic gesture but an important gesture to drive home the need to be innovative in finding solutions to our many challenges.”

 

President further address on youth problem, “India’s young population is naturally restless and wants to see change quickly. My Government carries the weight of their dreams. Together let us dedicate ourselves to making each day of the next five years, a day closer to the realization of their dreams.”

 

Indian Rail Ministry announces schemes for girl child and young people.

 

The proposed budget of Railways announces various concession for youth, children and women for current year.

 

Yuva (Youth)Trains:

Due to economic difficulties poor youth are not able to travel on normal trains. To keep observation Raiways will run “Yuva Trains” dedicated specially for the young generation.

 

These trains will be introduced between major cities to ensure that the youth and low income groups can travel at low rates between these cities.

 

The new low-priced fast train service will be started to connect youth in rural hinterlands to major metros/cities. The train will provide air conditioned seated accommodation and will run from point to point for distances ranging 24 from 1000 km to 2500 km. The fare will be Rs 299 for distances up to 1500 km and Rs 399 for distances up to 2500 km.

 

A weekly service will be introduced as a pilot service within three months in the following sections a) Mumbai to Delhi b) Delhi to Kolkata.

 

Free rail passes for Students:

The girls child will get the free monthly season tickets for second class travel between school and home for girl

students up to graduation and for boy students up to 12th standard will be extended to students attending Madrasa, High Madrasa and senior Madrasa.

 

Only Ladies Special:

To keep in mind the considerable difficulties faceby working women while travelling for work. Rail Minister announced ‘Only Ladies’ EMU train services in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata suburban on the pattern of Mumbai suburban. These services will run for the convenience of women passengers during office hours.

 

Youth speak out to International Leaders

 

The Youth Event of the 2^nd Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations (AoC) on 4-5 April brought nearly 100 youth together in Istanbul, Turkey, to ensure that youth could contribute to the Alliance´s aims of improving understanding and cooperation among nations and peoples across cultures and religion.

During the youth leg of the Forum, a framework for a planned Youth Advisory Committee was also developed. This committee which will work with the AoC on the implementation and evaluation of its Youth Strategy and help coordinate the Global Youth Movement for the Alliance of Civilizations.

 

The youth participants also worked to prepare concrete recommendations directed at the main Forum. The policy-oriented recommendations aimed at shaping the deliberations and outcomes of the meeting.

 

12 August: International Youth Day 2009

The theme for International Youth Day 2009 is Sustainability: Our Challenge, Our Future.

 

Sustainability encapsulates three facets of life: the environment, society and the economy, and sustainable development can only occur where these three intersect in symbiotic fashion. Therefore, in order to embrace the challenge of sustainability in its fullness, we must all adopt a global sense of social responsibility.

 

The United Nations Programme on Youth is encouraging youth organisations around the world to host community barter fairs for International Youth Day. Remember, with bartering there is no money involved, only pure exchange of goods and services.

 

THE CAMPAIGN: Dignity for all

Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA India), the Four Slum Regional Network (Thailand), the Nairobi People’s Settlement Network (NPSN), Ekta Parishad (India), Union National dos Moradias Popular (Brazil), the European Anti Poverty Network, the International Alliance of Inhabitants, and Dignity International are preparing to launch a campaign on Dignity for all in October 2009.

The campaign will focus on pushing governments to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of people in urban and rural areas whose realities are currently being ignored by the state. These are people, families and communities that are either not taken into account by public policy or deliberately under attack by state or non state actors with the support of the state.

Because they are poor, considered illegal, or occupying land illegally, because they do not fit in the state’s structure of life and work, they are systematically ignored or persecuted. This campaign is thus going to call attention to these groups and the violations they are victims of as a result of their way of life, and socio economic status.

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Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO)

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Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) is a registered non-profit, non-governmental network organization, committed in developing areas of mutual cooperation and understanding among different youth voluntary agencies, youth groups, clubs and individuals working in the field of youth welfare in India. 

ICYO functions as an umbrella organization of youth NGOs in India. It's family consists of
over 356 organizations spread in 122 districts of 22 states from different corners of India.

Our goal:
To improve and extend the youth work and services through Youth Organizations;
To enhance and demonstrate youth work in the society;
To promote effective youth programmmes;
To organize network of civil society organizations working towards the development of youth work;
To organize seminars, conferences, workshops, trainings;
To maintain international relation with organizations promoting young people in their programmes and activities

Affiliation: 

Consultative (Roster) Status with ECOSOC, United Nations;
Consultative Status with Commission on Sustainable Development;
Full Member of World Assembly of Youth (WAY); Asian Youth Council (AYC);
 CRIN, South Asia Youth Environment Network (SAYEN),

Affiliate group of ECPAT International, Thailand;
ATSECE-DELHI, Indian Partner of AIDS Care Watch Campaign;
Steering Committee member of World Bank's YDP Network;
Working relation with Indian Association of Parliamentarians (IAPPD);
International Medical Parliamentarians Organizations (IMPO);
Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD);
World Youth Foundation, Malaysia.