Deputy Commissioner S.J. Somashekar has directed the concerned department officials to initiate the necessary steps for the establishment of Bharat Jodo Youth Associations across Kodagu district.
He was speaking while presiding over a preliminary meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Tuesday to discuss the formation of Bharat Jodo Youth Associations. The Deputy Commissioner said that the Government intends to establish Bharat Jodo Youth Associations to promote sports, cultural activities, scientific temper, community participation and social harmony among the youth. In this regard, he instructed officials of the Panchayat Raj, Urban Development and Municipal Administration Departments to take urgent action for the implementation of the initiative.
He said that one Bharat Jodo Youth Association should be established in every Gram Panchayat in the district. In urban local bodies, one association should be formed for every average population of 4,000 in Town Panchayats, 6,000 in Municipalities and 8,000 in Municipal Corporations.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat Anand Prakash Meena said that the district has 102 Gram Panchayats, and accordingly, one Bharat Jodo Youth Association would be established in each Gram Panchayat.
He stated that the objective of the initiative is to make youth active partners in local development, community service, social harmony and environmental conservation. The programme also aims to achieve the economic and social empowerment of young people through sports, physical fitness and skill development, he added.
Project Director of the Urban Development Planning Branch, Manjunath Ramanna, informed the meeting that four Bharat Jodo Youth Associations would be established in Madikeri Municipality, five in Kushalnagar Municipality, four in Virajpet Municipality, two in Ponnampet Town Panchayat and one in Somwarpet Town Panchayat.
Deputy Commissioner Somashekar said that the Government would release an annual grant of Rs. 10 lakh to each Bharat Jodo Youth Association.
He further stated that each association would receive the services of a trainer, who would be paid an annual honorarium of Rs. 24,000. He directed officials to ensure that the implementation of the programme strictly adheres to the Government guidelines.
Highlighting the vision behind the initiative, the Deputy Commissioner said the project aims to establish a youth forum in every Gram Panchayat and urban ward to contribute towards building a developed and harmonious Karnataka. The associations are expected to nurture leadership qualities, social responsibility and civic consciousness among young people.
Assistant Director of the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, V.T. Vismayi, informed the meeting that applications for the formation of Bharat Jodo Youth Associations can be submitted through the online portal, mobile application, or with the assistance of Gram One, Karnataka One and Civil Service Centres operating in Gram Panchayats and urban areas.
She said that Aadhaar is mandatory for the registration of every member, and only youth in the 16 to 35 years age group are eligible to become members of the association.
For the formation of a unit, a minimum of 100 members is required. Each member must pay a registration fee of Rs. 10 towards the issuance of an identity card. Every association must be registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960.
She further explained that applicants must be ordinary residents of the respective Gram Panchayat or urban ward, and an individual can become a member of only one Bharat Jodo Youth Association.
Providing details of the administrative structure, Vismayi said that each association would have a democratically elected executive committee consisting of 15 members, including a President, Vice-President, Treasurer and 12 Executive Committee members. She added that either the President or the Vice-President of every association must be a woman.
