Jammu: Government Monday said there was no provision for absorbing youth engaged under National Youth Corps Scheme (NYCS) in a government department and neither has the Centre agreed to extend the scheme beyond December 2012.
Minister for Youth Service and Sports, Taj Mohi-ud-Din informed the Legislative Council while replying to a Calling Attention Notice by NC member Khalid Najeeb Suharwardhy.
However, the Minister said that Union government has agreed to provide funds to the state government for providing necessary training to these youth to enhance their various skills so that they could be employed in organised sector.
He also said as the youth have shown reluctance and only a few have opted for such an arrangement, no further progress has been made on the issue.
“The youth demand further extension of the scheme or they be permanently absorbed in government sector, although the scheme guidelines clearly stipulate that the volunteers under the scheme shall be engaged on temporary basis with no claim or right for regular appointment to any post under the deploying agency or department,” the Minister said.
Earlier, giving details of the NYCS, Mohi-ud-Din said that Union government had decided to engage 20,000 volunteers across the country, of which 8,000 from the state in the age group of 18 to 25 years, under NYC for their deployment in various sectors for a period of two years.
“The objective was to engage the youth in nation building activities like to serve as tourist volunteers (guides) for handling the heavy inflow of pilgrims at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra,” Mohi-ud-Din said.
Besides, cleaning and maintenance of Dal and Nageen Lake, National Mission for female literacy, Health and sanitation programmes etc, and during the period of their engagement they were entitled for the honorarium of Rs 2,500 per month.
However, against 8,000 NYC volunteers sanctioned (7,700 through Youth Services and Sports Department and 300 through Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan) only 6,956 volunteers were in position, he said.
The process of engagement was completed through Deputy Commissioners of the concerned districts during 2010 and the department of Youth Services and Sports acted as funding channel, the Minister said, adding engagement of volunteers has already expired in December 2012.
The Union government so far released Rs 38.47 crore for meeting the expenditure by the State government on account of honorarium of NYC volunteers and the entire amount stands released, he said, adding they have been requested to release the balance fund of Rs 3.27 crore.

KR Desk