Cabinet Approves Establishing Autonomous Body 'Mera Yuva Bharat' For Comprehensive Youth Development

The Union Cabinet granted on Wednesday (11 October) approval for the establishment of an autonomous entity named "Mera Yuva Bharat" (MY Bharat).

Union Minister Anurag Thakur emphasised that this overarching institutional mechanism aims to cultivate a sense of duty among the youth, including those residing overseas, to contribute to making India a developed nation.

Powered by technology for youth development, the body will serve as a platform ensuring equitable access for the youth to realise their aspirations and actively participate in building a developed India across all facets of the government.

A digital platform will bring youth together by engaging them in various voluntary participation and training program. Anurag Thakur, while briefing reporters on the Cabinet's decisions, highlighted that the fundamental goal of 'Mera Yuva Bharat' is to create a comprehensive government platform for youth development.

The dedication ceremony for this body is scheduled for 31 October, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, according to The Hindu.

MY Bharat, operating as an autonomous entity, will benefit youth within the age group of 15-29 years, aligning with the definition of 'Youth' in the National Youth Policy. For program components targeted at adolescents, the beneficiaries will fall within the age group of 10-19 years.

According to the press release, establishing MY Bharat will lead to:

1. Leadership Development in the Youth:

   • Enhancing leadership skills through experiential learning and programmatic skills development.

   • Investing more in youth to nurture them as social innovators and leaders in their communities.

   • Shifting the focus of the Government towards youth-led development, making them active drivers of development.

2. Better Alignment and Efficiency:

   • Aligning youth aspirations with community needs.

   • Improving efficiency through the convergence of existing programs.

   • Serving as a one-stop-shop for young people and Ministries.

   • Creating a centralized youth database for effective management.

3. Enhanced Communication and Accessibility:

   • Improving two-way communication to connect youth with government initiatives and activities involving other stakeholders engaged with youth.

   • Ensuring accessibility by establishing a physical ecosystem.

In response to the rapidly changing world characterized by high-velocity communications, social media, digital opportunities, and emerging technologies, the Government decided to establish MY Bharat.