PANAJI:
In line with the National Youth Commission, the Goa government too had proposed setting up Goa State Youth Commission through legislation. The Act, that would have laid focus on empowering youths of the State and protecting their rights- has seen no headway, more than a year and half since it was announced.
The Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in his 2023-24 Budget speech had proposed establishing Goa State Youth Commission and for which, he had said that the Bill would be drafted and presented during the 2023 Monsoon Session of the State Assembly.
However, though the Government’s Action Taken Report speaks about drafting of Bill in process- the reality seems to be otherwise. According to the sources, as of now, there is no work ongoing to draft any such Bill.
The Goa State Youth Commission was supposed to be established through the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs.
Sources said that the proposal was mooted in line with the Centre’s Youth Commission- a body that has already been set up in several States like Kerala, Mizoram, Assam, Maharashtra, etc.
“As per Central Act, the body will implement programmes for educating and empowering youths and will also function as a protector of the rights of youths,” sources said.
“The Central Act also proposes giving priority for employment to local youths in the private sector,” sources said adding ‘the move, if had to be taken seriously, would have benefited the youths and also helped in brain drain’.
The proposed body, as per National Act, will also look into implementation of laws for the welfare of youths and advise the government on all matters relating to them.
