Srinagar August 01 (KNS): Mission Youth, J&K organised consultative conference on establishment of District Youth Centres and Psycho-Social Counselling Centres in all the districts of Jammu and Kashmir with active involvement of youth from planning stage to management of these state-of-the-art institutions.
Chief Executive Officer, Mission Youth and Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary chaired the session on concept design and operational ecosystem of District Youth Centres. Chief Engineer, PWD Kashmir Showkat Geelani dwelled on the design options and youth expectations whiles OSD Mission Youth Tabish Saleem and Deputy Director Maqbool Ahmed organised stakeholder discussion on various contrives of District Youth Centres.
The District Youth Centres are being envisaged as Centres of Excellence to provide as a platform for constructive engagement of youth. These DYCs aimed to provide opportunities to young people to explore and recognize intellectual and professional potentials, provide the youth with professional counseling, systematic assistance and a role to play in socio-economic development of J&K. DYCs will also focus on opportunities for the skill development, social interaction and recreation.
The DYCs will provide systematic/ professional support for drug de-addiction and other social issues. The endeavours is to make available quality facilities for sports and other recreational activities. Mission Youth through theses DYCs endeavours to make the systematic hand-holding accessible to all young people including those with physical disabilities.
Dr Shahid informed that a month-long programme has been chalked out for a massive consultative process with youth under the “Ideas Conclave” series being organised at district level and to be later rolled out at block and panchayat level where youth will present their ideas, suggestions, issues and concerns which will a roadmap for Youth Policy and offer participatory planning planning for various schemes related to self-employment, entrepreneurship, skill development, sports, jobs, counselling and so on.
Apart from DYCs in 10 districts in Phase-I the Psycho-social counselling Centres are being established in 8 districts, 4 each in Kashmir and Jammu provinces. These centres focus on Therapy & Subsequent Rehabilitation, De-addiction and Post Integration Support, Basic Safety Training for Young Women, Gender Specific Counseling to deal with Gender Specific Stress; Stress Management Trainings/ Programmes and Basic Disaster Management Trainings.
The DYCs are being primarily designed to present a safe Youth-appealing Environment, Programmed Environment for Youth to Explore and Recognize Intellectual, Social and Spiritual Potentials; Professional Counselling, Systematic Assistance and a role to play in socio-economic Development of J&K and a Vibrant Media to Engage with Youth on Permanent Basis.
The components of DYCs include Professional Psycho-Social Counselling, Digital Libraries, Recreational Facilities, Discussion Spaces, Skill Labs, Value Based Movie Screening and Individual/ Group Guidance Sessions.
Dr Dr Muzaffar Khan and Dr. Yasir Hussain delivered address on psycho-social support mechanism, Mohammad Rafiq Asstt Director DECC Budgam discussed the contribute of livelihood schemes to be tailed for such centres while Syeed Tabassum Geelani conducted the proceedings of workshop.(KNS)