At last the state cabinet has approved the much-awaited Madhya Pradesh Youth Policy-2008. As expected, the policy aims at economic and social empowerment of youths to enable them to play a constructive role in progress of the nation and state.

It is no doubt that the state government had been undertaking a number of steps for youths¢ welfare and uplift. But documentation of clear-cut goals had become a crying need of the hour, analyses SMS News and Features. The policy envisages special efforts to provide better opportunities to the young generation and to ensure their economic and social empowerment.

Though the new policy would benefit youths of all the categories, yet it would be especially beneficial for those belonging to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes, other weaker sections and disabled. The policy seeks to provide job skills and employment opportunities to the youths under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (Education for All Campaign) during middle and secondary education.

Besides, all the higher education courses would be made job-oriented and educational institutions of national and international level would be set up. Scientific temper would be promoted and efforts would be made for industry-education institution interface. The youths would be encouraged to do job work for government and private sector.

The youth policy also provides for establishment of vocational education institutions of national and international repute, which would provide certificate and diploma courses besides imparting skill training to the students.

The employability of the youths would be increased for which employment oriented training policy-2007 would be implemented more effectively. It aims at providing employment to one lakh youths. The youth policy also keeps in view the prospects in Information Technology and Biotechnology.

Efforts would be made to encourage education and training programmes in these fields for which district employment centres would provide information about jobs and placement in government and private sector. The provision of including formal and non-formal education in the syllabus to make the youths aware of health and physical and mental changes is an important feature of the policy.

Youths would be provided jobs through sports and investment would be promoted for developing high level infrastructure for this purpose. The employment-oriented courses offered by Sports and Youth Welfare Department would be extended to division level.

The policy pays special attention to leadership development in youths. For this, programmes pertaining to enhancing awareness about contemporary subjects, youth groups, youth clubs, health clubs, culture and sports would be encouraged..

The policy also has a provision to enlist participation of private sector, voluntary institutions and public and organizations doing excellent work in this field would be suitably awarded. A state level fund would be created. Provisions have also been made for giving priority to rural adolescent students belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, disabled youths, orphans, homeless youths and the youths affected by accidents and incidents.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan had given clear indications of implementing a new youth policy in the state on January 12 this year. While addressing a youth convention at the state capital he had said that a well-contemplated youth policy would be implemented in the State.

He said that the state government would implement the youth policy, which has been prepared on the initiative of the youths. The policy gives a fair chance to youths in the state to achieve higher goals in their life and career, as nothing is impossible if youths gird up their loins to work.

In fact, Youth Policy's implementation would become easier after inclusion of some practical points in it.

No End To Amarnath Imbroglio

Insaf The security guns may have fallen silent, albeit temporarily, and the curfew lifted in the Valley yet peace continued to play hide and seek in the strife-torn State of Jammu & Kashmir. Violence had already claimed over 22 lives and left over 100 injured as protests in the Valley over the Amarnath land transfer controversy entered its 56th day. For the first time in over a decade, curfew was imposed in the entire Valley. Yet thousands of people defied its imposition, took to the streets and raised pro-azadi slogans in support of the clarion call given by the pro-Pakistan parties led by the Hurriyat's hardliner Syed Ali Geelani to march to the LoC and sell goods of the Kashmiri traders. Geelani was actively supported by Mehbooba Mufti's PDP who alleged that the Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti had enforced an economic blockade in Jammu and barred transporters ferrying goods from Punjab and elsewhere to proceed to the Valley on the national highway linking Jammu to the Valley. Tragically, the all-Party committee which visited Jammu has failed to douse the communal flames both in Hindu Jammu and Muslim Valley. Worse, the ongoing strife has ripped apart the fragile façade of the various Indo-Pak confidence building measures initiated by New Delhi and Islamabad over the years. Wherein the symbol of the peace process, the bus service from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad in PoK has been suspended. Not only that. The communal conflagration in the State has given the Pakistani Government a perfect opportunity to meddle in India's internal affairs again. Islamabad has now threatened to take the Kashmir issue to the UN again, notwithstanding India's harsh rebuttal not to interfere in the country's internal matter. All eyes are on New Delhi to act and act fast to restore normalcy in the State and find a via media to end the impasse over the Amarnath land which today have become a mere symbol of the larger Kashmir issue.

Rail link to Ladakh Connectivity is the new buzzword sweeping across Ladakh in J&K. Its main town Leh is all set to get a 400-km long railway line from Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh via the Rohtang Pass at a cost of roughly Rs 5,000 crores. The Prime Minister's Office has already given the project its 'in principle' approval and instructed the Union Railway Ministry to carry out a feasibility survey. Not only that. The Centre has asked the Himachal Government to build about 650 kms of rail lines in the State which are of major strategic and economic significance. Clearly, this is intended as India's answer to China's rail line to Tibet. Also pertinent, New Delhi is already working on its ambitious rail link to the Kashmir Valley.

Farmers' take on Mayawati UP Chief Minister Mayawati and controversy go hand-in-hand. The uproar over the BSP supremo's disproportionate asset case has still to die down that 800 farmers from Mayawati's parental village, Badalpur, are up in arms against the compensation offered by the State Government for acquiring nearly 400 hectares of their land to develop a recreation centre. The farmers allege that they are being offered a pittance of Rs.711 per sq. mtr, whereas the market rate is Rs.4,500-5,000 per sq. mtr. Predictably, Mayawati's arch rival, Samajwadi's Mulayam Singh and his 'enemy-turned-new-friend' Sonia Gandhi's Congress have joined hands with the farmers to put the Chief Minister on the mat. All eyes are on Mayawati's next move.

Dissidence in BJP's Uttarakhand The Opposition BJP which till recently prided itself as the 'Party with a difference' has been afflicted by the dissident disease. Wherein it's Government in Uttarakhand is in the throes of dissidence. Over 24 out of the Party's 36 MLAs in a 70-member State Assembly have demanded Chief Minister Khanduri's replacement. Led by former Chief Minister Koshyari they vented their anger of being 'mistreated' by the CM's secretary before Party President Rajnath Singh and Leader of Opposition Advani. True, the BJP's central leaders have for the time being doused the dissident fire by ruling out a change in leadership. It has also warned Khanduri to rein in the bureaucrats. Needless to say, with the Party's popularity graph beginning to dip in the State and elections to the Lok Sabha months away, the Party can ill-afford a rebellion at this crucial juncture. Will Khanduri's 'army' discipline win over the rebels?

Meghalaya to block illegal Bangladeshis The Meghalaya Government has hit upon a novel idea to curtail the influx of Bangladeshis in the State. It is all set to issue work permits for migrant labourers as part of the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) Government's Common Minimum Programme (CMP). The Cabinet Committee on Influx has mooted that the Inter-State Workmen Regulation Act, 1979, be tightened and made more effective. The Government plans to issue permits for 179 days, which would be up for renewal so that migrant labourers do not claim the right of permanent residency. As per the existing laws, any Indian citizen who resides at place for over six months may apply for permanent residency. This measure may well ensure that Meghalaya does not go the Assam and Tripura way, where Bangladeshi nationals have changed the demography of these two States

Talibanisation of Bangalore's nightlife After three years 'Talibanisation' has hit Karnataka's Capital Bengaluru again leaving India's IT city bleeding. Trust the State BJP Government to dig up an 2005 law which tightens the screws on nightlife. All restaurants with live bands and dancing including 32 discotheques have been banned under the Licensing and Controlling of Places of Public Entertainment (Bangalore City) Order, 2005' and the Karnataka Excise Act of 1965. Leading to outrage by musicians, artists, disc jockeys and Bengaluru's partying public. Famous theatre personality Girish Karnad couldn't have put it better: "Instead of going after criminals the police are going after musicians." No matter that these protests are falling on deaf ears. Forgotten in this din is the Supreme Court order of 2005, permitting live bands and dancing in restaurants and hotels on the condition that the establishments didn't encourage prostitution or indecent shows.