Introduction :

In this millennium when we look forward, the issues like education, employment/self-employment, vocational training, health and leisure time activities have become vital to arrest the growth of delinquency, crime, terrorism and fissiparous tendencies. Rapid urbanization and migration of un-employed youth to urban centers in search of education and employment opportunities have resulted in growing pressure on cities and towns. Poverty, hunger, mal-nutrition, substance abuse, subjugation of women and girl child, ill health, lack of access to information, education, employment and resources etc. have been issues of concern for the development of young people and society and hence the nation.

With the on slot of cyber age and communication revolution, the hype generated by mass-media and influences of culture alien to rural surroundings, place the youth in quagmire and the problems of psychological adjustment, push them to the verge of high-risk behaviour, affecting their health and waste of resources. Access to information, technological adjustment, awareness of environment, opportunities for economic activities and development of their personality become more relevant.

Fulfilling the commitment to provide gainful engagement to all youth, requires concerted effort on the part of different Ministries/Departments of the Government and Non-Governmental organizations. Over a period, Government of India has developed schemes, programmes and infrastructure through its various Ministries and Departments for the overall development of young people and the society. Young people are either not aware of such schemes or if they are aware then they do have avenues to access different development schemes and get benefit out of them. Moreover, they do not get opportunity at a single place or center to explore their areas of interest and prioritize the issues, which they want to take up not only for their own development but also of their community.

For this to happen, the youth have to be properly informed and equipped so as to enable them to have access to development schemes being implemented by the government. The need is to establish an Information Technology Center, which could act as a medium to provide opportunities to youth to address different issues that affect their daily lives.

Keeping the above points in view, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India introduces the scheme of Rural Information Technology Youth Development Centers (RITYDC) from the financial year 2003-2004. These centres will be upgraded from amongst the Youth Development Centres (YDCs) and efforts will be made to establish one such centre in each district of the country in a phased manner