Jammu and Kashmir government today said it has asked the Centre to extend the engagement of 8,000 youths of National Youth Corps (NYC), under Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, for a period of two years.
"The demand for extension of NYC youth already engaged has been taken up with the Centre, which is under their consideration," Minister for Medical Education, Youth Service and Sports, Taj Mohi-ud-Din said in the state Assembly.
The Minister said under the scheme, 8000 youth were engaged in the state during 2010 for two years.
As per the central guidelines, the services of these youths had to be terminated and another 8,000 youth were to be engaged under the scheme afterwards, he said.
The state government had employed the youths as volunteers in different departments during 2010 summer unrest under Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, an ancillary wing of Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The youths have been protesting in support of their demands which include regularisation of their services and even sat on a hunger strike for several weeks here.
The Minister also said the government will consider setting up drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres at various sports stadia across the state.
Responding to a suggestion by Leader of Opposition and PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti, the minister said the department has a provision of youth counselling and expressed hope to extend it to district level.
The minister informed the House that the department has already started counselling of drug addicted youth at government Medical Colleges at Srinagar and Jammu.
He also said that Centre has launched a new scheme - Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan - in the country for development of sports which would kick off from October 15.
Under the scheme, sports fields in every Panchayat and block in the state would be developed, he said.
The minister said sports academies will be set up in every district under the scheme.
