Prologue

India's population is quite young -- perhaps 35 % of the total population is aged less than 15 years. In the mid-1970s, India was so worried about its explosive population growth. Population growth has slowed from 4 % in the 1960s to about 1.7 % now, fueling hopes of stable growth by the middle of the century in a country with the world's second largest population at 1.1 billion people. Some experts predict population growth could turn out to be a boon to the economy, one of the fastest growing in the world.

Since half of India's population is younger than 25, it gives the country a potential edge over China, where an aging population -- the result of a one-child policy -- could slow its economy by 2030, they said. "It is an advantage for India now because the country is entering the demographic dividend phase while China is exiting it," said Bikram Sen, a former Indian census director. But any resources are useful if they are put to use constructively. Idle resources bear no value and sometime, it mat is costly to preserve them. Human resource has great potential, but it need to be shaped that can deliver great result. Man should be groom at early age to shape in the desired mould. The present education and social system is to be put to acid test: does it providing students with the tools to gain employment and capable to solve their problem effectively? The government and business are not doing a good job to help provide opportunities for employment. The goals of the education system must remain as they have always been, that is, to teach us how to read, write, analyze, grow, create, and build. We must strive to get the youth to think for them, but in addition a value based citizen and employable. These are the most important skills to bring to the job market and civil life. There are some improvements that the government can do on the education system, but it would require some investment in teachers, resources, technology, buildings, and student development. But who can take initiative? Who will monitor ongoing process? It is youth cooperative that can offer a solution: creating value based youth for strong economy and cohesive society. Youth can make a difference; they just need more ways to do so - so they should be at the forefront of global change and innovation.

Youth as strength

Indian youth are highly idealistic and potent change agents. Cooperative is considered as one of the most effective Institutional mechanisms for a sustained economic development programme for empowering the youth. The youth population as depicted below indicates great strength so far as number is concern.

Age structure

National youth policy

Looking to the untapped potential and volume of youth in the total population, Government of India formulated 'The National Youth Policy' in 1988. The main objectives of the Youth Policy are to instill in the youth respect for the principles and values enshrined in Constitution; to promote an awareness of our historical heritage; to help develop the qualities of discipline, self-reliance, justice and fair play; and to provide them access to education in addition to developing their personality. It also aims at making the youth conscious of international issues and involving them in promoting world peace and a just international economic order.

A need was, however, felt for a new National Youth Policy geared not only to the fast changing socio-economic scenario in the country but also to address the future concerns of the youth. A new national Youth Policy was accordingly drafted and circulated to all ministries/departments of the Central Government, all State governments, universities, youth wings of political parties and voluntary organizations working in field of youth concerns for their comments. Based on the views received, a Draft New National Youth Policy has been prepared and is under consideration of the Government. The Youth Policy recognizes that youth development is a multicultural concept and calls for an integrated approach. It stresses that the youth should be given more access to the process of decision-making and implementation. It also defines the privileges and responsibilities of youth.

Some important objectives of the Policy are to provide the youth with proper educational and employment opportunities; to give access to all relevant information; create adequate sports and other recreational facilities; to create among the youth awareness about Indian history, culture and heritage and to inculcate a scientific temper in them. The draft policy has set out four thrust areas, viz., Youth Empowerment, Gender Justice, Inter-sectoral Approach and an Information and Research Network. The Policy recognizes the key sectors of concern for youth, such as education, training and employment, health and accords high priority to certain categories of youth such as, youth with disabilities, rural youth, unemployed youth and street children, etc. The Policy also focuses on adolescent health, AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, nutrition, environment, sports, recreation and leisure, art and culture, gender justice, science and technology, civic sense and citizenship.

Youth Cooperatives

Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, a government sponsored program that provide umbrella to almost 200000 youth centers and youth cooperatives. Cooperatives are based on universal values shared by youth; they help young people meet their social aspirations and allow them to achieve their dreams. By belonging to the social economy, cooperatives make it possible to establish closer and more sustainable links between the economy, society and its institutions, like family, school or the local communities.

The cooperative is source which provide social benefits like education, economic benefit at micro level like credit, at macro level like poverty alleviation and Cooperatives make it possible for underprivileged or inexperienced youth, among others, to acquire experience within an enterprise and to assume management responsibilities. Due to their values and principles, such as facilitating collective training and respect for others, cooperatives instill social awareness and responsibility in youth, teaching life lessons. Cooperatives make it possible for their members to have access to credit and benefit from size related advantages, such as economy of scale, access to the markets, purchasing power, shared talents, training and research capacity. Having for objective the satisfaction of its members, cooperatives can be created and managed by excluded and disadvantaged people whom, otherwise, would not have access to the labor market. Rooted in a community where they provide local services, they prevent rural to urban migration and allow for the development of remote areas.

Despite the fact that India is still a primarily rural economy, the majority of the areas outside the major cities are untouched by modern technology, especially the Internet. Much of the information that members of India's agrarian society need - crop prices, new crop cultivation technique, weather reports, etc. - is more often than not ill-organized and difficult to find, even if one actually has the means to access the Net. The youth can be educated and given training for technological tools that can bring social economic change. This could be done by cooperative organization.

The Youth Cooperative of my dream that can build strong economy and cohesive society will have following objectives, vision, mission & value in its charter:

Objectives:

• To facilitate, coordinate and promote employment oriented economic activities for socio-economic development.
• To prepare projects for guidance and support to Nehru Yuva Kendra affiliated youth clubs/Self Help Groups, (SHG) with a view to enabling them in organizing youth cooperatives
• To supply raw material and arrange marketing of processed and finished goods produced
• To render technical guidance and assistance to yuva cooperatives/youth clubs/SHGs in regard to production and income generating activities undertaken by them and other youth
• To undertake marketing research of market information for the benefit of yuva cooperation/youth clubs/SHGs and young entrepreneur
• To open and run emporia for facilitating marketing of products produced by its members, youth clubs, SHGs and the yuva cooperatives and other youth
• To arrange education and training including co-operative education for members and employees
• To undertake consultancy work in various fields
• To maintain Organizational liaison and linkages between the Yuva cooperative movement and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Government, National Co-operative Union Of India and other allied Organization including non-governmental organizations
• To act as spokesperson of yuva cooperative movements
• To bring out publications, publicity materials, audio-visuals projecting the activities of yuva cooperative movement and prepare and manage websites and portals.
• To promotion and propagation of local resource based and appropriate use to improve standards of living
• To develop and promote of housing and related activities
• Promotion of non-conventional energy resources and technologies
• Propagate environmental consciousness and temper
• To develop and propagate scientific temper
• To propagate health consciousness, HIV, AIDS awareness and family welfare.
• To promote gender equality, care of girl child, poverty eradication, literacy campaign and eliminate child labour.
• To educate and prevent drug abuse carry social campaign to foster and build developed India
• To undertake all such activities as may be incidental and facilitating to the attainment of the above objectives
• To promote and create SHGs amongst the members and youth clubs
• Maintain data bank for giving complete information on all relevant aspects accessible on both fee based and free service basis.

Vision

Promote the principles of universal values of cooperatives

Promote the development and growth of the cooperative form in general and specially for youth

Promote education and awareness for cooperative thrift, credit management and self help groups to members throughout the country

Participate as a corporate citizen in supporting community needs and interests

Mission

To create sensible and incredible youth, capable to build strong economy and cohesive society

Values

Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity.  In the tradition of their founders, cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others. Youth is great source for universal value.

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