The dawn of the 21st century brings with it overwhelming aspirations in the lives of the youth and the new generation. The youth are the backbone of a society and they are the real stake-holders in writing the future of the society. For years, the youth in Mizoram have been forthcoming in expressing their desire to have a separate functionary of the Government to look after their welfare in all aspects. Consequently, the Mizoram Youth Commission Bill, 2008 was passed by the Mizoram Legislative Assembly on April 2, 2008 and received the assent of the Governor on April 4, 2008.
The office of the Mizoram Youth Commission (MYC) came into being on October 13, 2008 and the office is housed in the Secretariat Annex- I, Treasury Square, Aizawl.
The MYC is headed by the Chairman, Pu Hmingdailova Khiangte, MLA. The sanctioned strength of the staff is : Secretary, Under Secretary, 2 Youth Commission Officers, Superintendent, Assistant, UDC, 2 LDCs, Despatch Rider, 2 peons and 1 chowkider.
The MYC is charged with the responsibility of promotion, exploration and enhancement of youth activities and welfare. Its terms of reference being so vast and comprehensive, it may suffice to say that the MYC has a role to play in all aspects of life that have either direct or indirect impact on the youth. Some areas of activities wherein the MYC has laid stress in the past one year of its functioning may be broadly outlined as below:
(a) promoting training activities for the youth to enhance their capacity in entrepreneurship.
(b) promoting and strengthening of existing training centres and institutes within the state
(c) meeting expenses incurred in hiring of professional agencies and to meet training fees.
(e) sponsoring employment related activities outside the state.
(f) exploring opportunities for the youth for sustainable economic activities.
(g) establishment of reliable coaching centres for job seekers.
The Mizoram Youth Commission sets up the Mizoram Youth Development Agency (MYDA), which has been registered under the Mizoram Societies Registration Act, 2005. The MYDA would served as the executing Agency of the projects of the MYC. Projects and schemes shall be availed of from the Centre and State governments and from such other funding agencies in the name of the MYDA.
The MYC receives its budgetary allocation of fund through its nodal Department, i.e. the Sports & Youth Services, Government of Mizoram, by way of Grants-in-Aid. The MYC may also receive fund from the Consolidated Fund of the State for the purpose of carrying out its duties and responsibilities. The Annual Budget 2008-2009 provides Rs 42.00 lakhs to the MYC.
Activities:
Some of the concrete steps that have been taken by the MYC in the past one year are as given below:
(i) Civil Services Coaching: The declining number of entry into the Civil Services and allied services by the youth from Mizoram is matter of great concern. While Mizoram was once upon a time considered as the hot-bed of civil services aspirants and the success ratio used to be remarkably high, a dull period has set in from the recent years.
In order to regain past glory, the MYC has established Civil Services Coaching classes beginning from June 2009 in partnership with the Lord Krishna IAS Academy, New Delhi. Classes are run in the Government Aizawl College and the intake capacity of students is 100. The subjects being offered are – Philosophy, Sociology, Geography and Public Administration. Besides these optional subjects, classes are also being held for General Studies, General English and Essay. The students are not charged any fee and they are provided with all the study materials free.
This Coaching Class is propose to be continued in the ensuing years and a project proposal to such an effect has been submitted to the Ministry of tribal Affairs for the session 2010-2011. Project proposal for staring of free coaching in other areas of examinations such as – JEE, AITEE, CAT etc, has also been submitted to the Centre.
(ii) Career Guidance & Aptitude Test: It has become apparent that majority of the students from the secondary and university levels tend to pursue their studies without taking into consideration the advantages and disadvantages of the area of their choice of studies for their future. Also, the students lack career guidance to help them in making decision at the early age. Therefore, the MYC has heaped upon itself the task of conducting as many career guidance exercises and aptitude tests so that the students could understand their capacity and make the right decision. A project proposal amounting to Rs 31 lakhs has been recommended by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. The exercise would be launched soon as fund is released.
(iii) Awareness Campaign : This project envisages launching massive campaign throughout the state on such welfare schemes that the Centre and the State governments have been launching from time to time. The rural youth would be made aware of how to avail of the schemes, how to seek redress and how to make optimum use of the schemes. At the same time, the rural youth would be made aware of the ample opportunities for self-employment and entrepreneurship by way of conducting seminars, workshops and training. A sum of Rs 110 lakhs is expected as grants from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.
(iv) Training in Masonry : Masonry is one area of occupations in which more and more youth should be encouraged to engage themselves. This would also be one concrete measures to arrest the influx of masons and its related labourers from outside Mizoram. There are numerous trained masons in Mizoram but they are very disorganized. Hence, the MYC is in the process of enumerating and registering masons who are bonafide residents of Mizoram. After the exercise is completed, the list shall be submitted to the Government of Mizoram with a request to issue Circular to all the Departments to give preferences to the listed Masons in all works of masonry. A very systematic and comprehensive training would be imparted to the youth who chose masonry as an occupation. A project proposal has been submitted to the Centre and the programme will commence as soon as fund is made available.
(v) Skill Development Initiative: The aim of the project is to inculcate certain sets of skill in the youth so that they may be able to engage themselves in gainful economic activities. By developing their inherent talents or by teaching them new skills at par with the prevailing labour market, the problem of unemployment could be solved to a very great extent. The aim is to make our youth employable and to stand up on their own. Proposal for setting up of State Level Skill Development Council along with draft guidance has been prepared and would soon be officially handed over to the Government of Mizoram.
(vi) The Commission has launched a website of its own, namely – www.mycmizoram.net wherein all information pertaining to the Commission is made available. Application forms for various jobs under the State Government and the Centre, etc. are also be pasted which could be downloaded through internet by job seekers from anywhere. The youth could send their queries to the website in the portal allotted for comment and this has proved to be very fruitful in helping out the youth in solving their problems from distance.
(vii) The Commission has been interacting with all the stakeholders on matters concerning the youth, these includes – NGOs, functionaries of the Churches, the elders, the intellectuals and the people in general. On the basis of the collective wisdom drawn from these interactions and discussions, a comprehensive Youth Policy shall be formulated. The Youth Policy, as and when formulated, and after due administrative approval is received shall cause to be laid on the floor of the Legislative Assembly and it shall henceforth forms the backbone of all future policies and programme to be undertaken by the Commission in respect of the youth. Rules and regulations of the Mizoram Youth Commission is also at the drafting stage. | 
