Karnali Province youth policy seeks to prevent migration to Kalapahad

By Lalit Basel,Surkhet, Aug. 27: The Ministry of Social Development of Karnali Province has prepared a draft of Youth Policy-2024. 

The ministry has prepared the draft with the help of Lalitpur-based Mannami Communication and Publication Pvt. Ltd.

The draft highlights that while the youth population in Karnali Province accounts for 35.9 per cent, there are no policies or programmes targeted at youth in proportion to their numbers.

Additionally, 9.7 per cent of the province’s total population is entirely unemployed, and around 90 per cent of the youth rely on employment opportunities in India.

The draft states that concessional interest rate loans should be provided to encourage young people to engage in collective vegetable and fruit farming, animal husbandry, and the utilisation of barren land.

Furthermore, the draft suggests that these activities should be promoted, as youth can be mobilised by developing industries in sectors like tourism, herbal products, water resources, and forestry, which have significant potential in this province.

It has also been suggested to create a programme that utilises the knowledge, skills, technology, capital, and experience of youth who have returned from foreign employment to contribute to the development of the province.

The draft proposes that youth focal persons should be appointed in all provincial ministries and local levels, and that policies, programmes, and budgets should be specifically created to target youth. 

Additionally, a “Come to Your Country, Build Your Place” campaign should be launched to harness the skills of the youth. 

The draft states that the province should mobilise youth in areas such as education, employment and entrepreneurship development, health and social security, participation, volunteer service, youth empowerment and leadership development, science and technology innovation, climate change and environmental protection, sports, arts, literature, entertainment, and partnership and collaboration. 

It emphasises that comprehensive plans should be developed in these areas to achieve prosperity.

The draft proposes forming a steering committee, coordinated by the Chief Minister, to implement the provincial youth policy. 

The committee members would include the Minister of Economic Affairs and Planning, the Minister of Youth Affairs, Vice-Chairman of the Provincial Planning Commission, the Chief Secretary, Vice-Chairman of the Provincial Youth Council, Vice-Chairman of the Provincial Sports Council, an expert nominated by the steering committee, and Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs of the province.

The Ministry has gathered feedback on the provincial youth policy draft from various stakeholders. 

Ganesh Dangi, a member of the Provincial Youth Network, proposed that the Youth Policy Implementation Steering Committee hold meetings quarterly rather than annually. 

He also suggested that plans and programmes be developed to prevent youth migration abroad and emphasised that the loan facility using certificates as collateral should be implemented concretely, rather than being just a rumour.

Rajendra Adhikari, Executive Vice-chairman of the local youth council in Bhagwatimai Rural Municipality of Dailekh, suggested several measures. 

He noted that since many youths from Karnali migrate to Kalapahad, there should be a plan to address this migration. 

He recommended allocating a budget for this purpose, forming local youth councils at each local level, and establishing youth employment banks, forums, and information centres in the province. 

Additionally, he advised that programmes should be conducted in an integrated manner and tailored to different age groups of youth.

Minister for Social Development Ghanshyam Bhandari said that the youth policy draft would be revised according to the opinions and suggestions from the youth. 

He assured that a policy suitable for the youth of Karnali would be developed. 

Deputy Secretary Jawaharlal Hamal of the Ministry of Social Development noted that since the draft has been prepared, it will be further reviewed and collected from the youth.