National Youth Development Index to be released

A National Youth Development Index (YDI) featuring a set of parameters to aid planning for youth will be released on Wednesday to mark the Foundation Day of the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) at Sriperumbudur. Modelled on the Human Development Index formulated by the UNDP, it will make State-wise assessment of the status of the youth based on 11 indicators.
“The index, being brought out along with a Youth Development Report, marks the first such exercise in the country to provide tools for States to plan interventions for the youth,” C.R. Kesavan, RGNIYD vice-president told a press conference on Monday.
The YDI, which was a project undertaken with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, would facilitate planning and policy making for youth in the country where youth welfare is a State subject, said P. Michael Vetha Siromony, RGNIYD Director.
As an “observatory of social change,” the YDI database is expected to help youth programmers to use the quantitative and qualitative information to improve the process and content of delivery.
Important inputs
The YDI and youth development report would also provide important inputs to the third Youth Policy being formulated by the Centre.
The third edition of the policy is significantly different from its predecessors in that it seeks to go beyond “general statements to establish a set of monitorable indicators,” said Mr. Siromony.
The Foundation Day celebrations would also feature the launch of “Unfolding Tribal Mindset with Focus on North-East of India,” a compendium of articles presented at a workshop for young social scientists. On the occasion, the “Ilanthalir Community Radio” established at the campus would also double broadcast duration to four hours every day.
K. Kasturirangan, former ISRO chairman and Member of the Planning Commission, is scheduled to deliver the third Foundation Day lecture.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports M.S. Gill and Minister of State Pratik Prakashbapu Patil will also participate.