News

Volume 9 Issue 7 - June 15, 2012

National Youth Policy 2012 to also focus on youth with disabilities

D.N.I.S. News Network, India: The exposure draft of the National Youth Policy 2012, unveiled by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, that aims to empower youth of the country through holistic development has identified youth with disabilities as a priority target group. This National Policy aims to put young people at the centre of the country’s growth and development.

The thrust areas of the draft Policy are promotion of national values, social harmony, national unity, empowering youth through employable skills, education, health, sports and recreation, gender justice, participation in community service, environment and local governance.

The draft emphasises the need for a comprehensive National Youth Policy that will provide direction to youth-focused interventions by the Central and State governments and the voluntary sector beyond the present, empowering young people for affirmative and positive action and transforming their life.

The Policy also states that youth development programmes should reach out to all sections of the youth population and be accessible to them. These should be free from all forms of discrimination – based on gender, caste, ethnicity, language, or physical or mental condition.