PANJIM: Goa government intends to promote yoga, meditation and spirituality discourses in a bid to improve tolerance level – an initiative on the lines with the Gujarat model. It also announced allocation of funds for the Goa State Youth Policy-2015, which was unveiled by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on National Youth Day – Swami Vivekananda’s birthday, in Panjim on Monday.
The detailed allocation, however, will be made in the forthcoming Goa budget to be presented in March.
Parsekar said the government will ensure the necessary administrative and financial provisions for effective implementation for the benefit of every youth in the State.
“The roadmap for implementation has enlisted three plans – short term, midterm and long term. We will allot funds for each of these phases in the coming budget,” he said after releasing the policy.
Secretary Sports & Youth Affairs Mathew Samuel said that the policy – drafted by a team of 20 to 21 members, including three legislators, will be open for ‘constant revision.’
The 20-page policy booklet has been divided into eight components comprising target groups, thrust areas, policy recommendations and roadmap for implementation among others. Like several service helpline numbers, government’s plans include proposing to commission 24×7 ‘youth helpline’ to provide professional psychological counselling, information service and answering of multi-sector and multi-level queries.
Besides, adolescent health education for teenagers, self employment workshops for unemployed youth, skill development for semi-skilled and school drop outs, eradication of social evil and vices programmes, expansion of sports and recreational opportunities and adventure activities are among 24 different types of schemes and courses enlisted for the year.
In the wake of a series of cases of youth falling prey to drugs, the policy’s long term plan is to establish de-addiction and rehabilitation centres not only for youth affected by drug abuse, but also for alcohol addicts.
