The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : YES Academy homes in on city

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

YES Academy homes in on city

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JAN. 10. The YES Academy, an international agency engaged in youth training and welfare, will set up a branch in Hyderabad - its first in India -- in the light of several schemes under implementation here, the major one being Rajiv Yuvashakti.

Announcing this at the Government's third "Samachara Sravanthi" press conference here on Monday, the Minister for Youth Welfare, T. Harish Rao, the department's Principal Secretary, Lakshmi Parthasarathy, and the Commissioner, G. Nageswara Rao, said the Government would soon sign an MoU with the academy for covering five sectors with ample opportunities for youth.

State contribution

Infrastructure for the academy, which was working in liaison with UN agencies, would be provided at the Marri Channa Reddy HRD Institute. The State Government would pay Rs. 1 crore annually to the agency towards maintenance.

The Minister said the Government was trying to enhance the youth welfare budget to Rs. 1,000 crores for next year to provide employment to 3 lakh youths under Rajiv Yuvashakti.

Under the scheme, he announced a 4 per cent interest subsidy to commercial banks on loans taken by the groups and additional sanction of self-employment units to the tune of 5-10 per cent after achievement of the target, both on prompt repayment of the loans.

Reimbursement

He said the Government was planning to reimburse 30 per cent of the expenditure incurred by girls pursuing paramedical and nursing courses. Rest of the expenses would be met through a tie-up with banks.

It was found that girls from weaker sections were not able to join the courses, which were mostly offered by private institutions at a fee of Rs. 18,000-20,000 per year for paramedical courses and Rs. 30,000 for nursing. The plan was to cover at least 10,000 girls next year with Rs 7.5 crores of subsidy.

More youth hostels

Mr. Rao said Dr. Reddy Labs had "agreed" to extend its "Maarpu" which was being implemented in four districts now, to the rest of the State. The Centre had given clearance to set up five more youth hostels in the State each at a cost of Rs. 1 crore, which could be used by unemployed youths while attending interviews. The new hostels would be in Karimanagar, East Godavari, Cuddapah, Vizianagaram and Medak districts.

He announced that the allowance to youth clubs undertaking social activities had been enhanced to Rs. 5 lakhs per year of which Rs 2.5 lakhs would be given directly by the department.

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