Skill Development key focus of Karnataka Youth Policy

Bengaluru, Dec 9 (KNN) With the aim to empower the state’s youth in all sectors, the Karnataka government on Thursday approved the State Youth Policy.

As per reports, the primary aim of the policy will be to provide skill training to the youth to address rising unemployment and also tackle problems of malnutrition, mental health and addiction among youth. 

According to Youth and Sports Minister KC Narayana Gowda, for the first time such a comprehensive policy has been framed. “The policy will stress on issues youth are facing.”

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will also present a Youth Budget in 2023, he said, adding that the policy also recommends a separate Directorate for Youth, with offices at taluk level.

The state government last year had constituted a 13-member expert committee to frame the Karnataka Youth Policy.  

The focus of the committee was on youth in the age-group of 15 to 29, touching various aspects including education, training, employment, entrepreneurship, health and well-being, sports and fitness, arts and culture as well as value-based leadership development. 

According to data shared by the department, in Karnataka, presently, of the 7.5 crore population, 30 per cent are youth.

Sources from the department said there are over 500 schemes for youth in various departments including education, sports, social welfare, women and child and health.  (KNN Bureau)