The Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched ‘Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat)’ platform for youth of the country on October 31st, at Kartavya Path on the National Unity Day. Earlier on Oct 11, Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister had given its approval for the establishment of an autonomous body known as “Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat).”
The initiative is born to carry forward the legacy of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the 2 year-long celebration of country’s 75 years of Independence. The PM pointed out that as we bid goodbye to a grand celebration, we are initiating a new resolution with MY Bharat. “MY Bharat organization is going to play a big role in nation-building in the 21st century”, PM Modi said. The celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav concluded with the ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ Abhiyan in which a collection of mitti (soil) and rice grains from over 6 lakh villages in rural areas and from wards in urban areas, which was sent to block level (where mitti of all villages in the block was mixed) and then to the state capital. The mitti from the state level was sent to the National Capital, for building of Shilaphalakam (Memorial) to express heartfelt gratitude to all the bravehearts who have made the supreme sacrifice at India Gate, New Delhi.
‘Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat)’ is envisioned as a pivotal, technology-driven facilitator for youth development and youth-led development, with the overarching goal of providing equitable opportunities to empower the youth in realizing their aspirations and contributing to the creation of a “Viksit Bharat” (developed India), across the entire spectrum of the Government.
It envisions a framework where the youth of our country can seamlessly connect with programs, mentors, and their local communities. This engagement is designed to deepen their understanding of local issues and empower them to contribute to constructive solutions.
Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) is ‘Phygital Platform’ (physical + digital) comprising physical activity along with an opportunity to connect digitally.
The primary objective of Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) is to make it a whole of Government platform dedicated to the advancement of the youth. Its objectives include:
- Leadership Developmentin the Youth
- Improve the leadership skills through experiential learning by shifting from isolated physical interaction to programmatic skills
- Investing in youth to make them social innovators, and leaders in the communities
- Better alignmentbetween the aspirations of the youth and the community needs
- Enhanced efficiencythrough Convergence of existing programmes
- Act as a one-stop shop for young people and Ministries
- Create a centralized youth database
- Improved two-way communicationto connect youth government initiatives and activities of other stakeholder that engage with youth
- Ensuring accessibility by creating a Phygital Ecosystem – a blend of physical and digital experiences.
NEED FOR SUCH BODY:
- Role of youth in Amrit Kaal:India’s youth are to play a critical role in defining the future of the nation – especially at the pivotal juncture of India’s 75 years of independence, as the country embarks on a paradigm-shifting development journey over the next 25 years of building an Amrit Bharat by 2047.
- Establishing a framework for bringing youth from diverse areas under a single platform:Vision 2047 requires a framework that can bring rural youth, urban youth and Rurban youth on a single platform. The existing schemes of the Government were designed and launched at different points in time over the last 50 years with the then prevailing understanding of the needs of rural youth in our society. The dynamic shifts in the urban-rural landscape have necessitated a re-evaluation of these approaches. It is imperative to create a framework that unites rural, urban, and rurban youth on a common platform. Mera Yuva Bharat will help to create such a framework.
- Establishing a new contemporary technology-led platform to engage with the present-day youth:In today’s fast-paced world, characterized by rapid communication, the prevalence of social media, and the emergence of new digital tools and cutting-edge technologies, a technology-driven platform can connect youth to programmes that can help them improve their capabilities and also connect them with community activities.
- Ensuring accessibility by creating a phygital ecosystem:The Mera Yuva Bharat platform will create a phygital ecosystem and empower young individuals to become catalysts for community transformation. They would act as “Yuva Setu,” linking the government with its citizens. Recently, a web portal of the Department of Youth Affairs, yuva.gov.in, hosted a nation-wide program called “Meri Maati Mera Desh” in which 50 million young people participated and helped to plant 23 million saplings to create Amrit Vatikas pan-India. Mera Yuva Bharat would help to create and sustain such a phygital ecosystem that connects millions of young people in a network seamlessly.
