Introduction :

The Government of India in the year 1986-87 created an autonomous body under the then Department and now Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports by the name of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan. The Sangathan is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. and i.e., fully funded by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.

The Sangathan was created with the special objective of formulating programmes for the non-student rural youth. For the implementation of the programmes, the Kendras of the Sangathan are heavily dependent on the village level Youth Clubs. The Youth Clubs are basically an association’s of youth, working in the field voluntarily, in areas such as literacy, environment enrichment, women empowerment, vocational training, eradication of dowry, untouchability, afforestation, health and family welfare etc. Besides this, Youth Clubs are taking up social campaigns, awareness drives on issues of local and national importance. They are also taking lead in community development, sports, cultural activities and other developmental programmes in coordination with various departments and agencies at different levels.

The role of Youth Clubs was found to be very useful in the recently conducted study of the Planning Commission on the schemes of the Sangathan. It is stated in the Report that “Youth Clubs have helped the village panchayats in creating assets in the villages in a cooperative and voluntary manner, and in building up organisational skills etc.”

It is only appropriate that such grass-root level organisations get adequate support from the Government so that they are able to develop further and contribute more towards national development. It is, therefore, proposed to institute awards for outstanding Youth Clubs at three levels viz. District, State and National levels.