IMPHAL, March 22: The Manipur State Youth Policy 2011 was criticized today in a national seminar on Youth, Peace and Development organized by National Service Scheme (NSS) Cell of Manipur University in Imphal.
The 2 day seminar was sponsored by the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Sriperumbudur.
Besides scholars from outside the state, the afternoon session had Human Rights Activist Babloo Loitongbam and journalists Irengbam Arun and Yumnam Rupachandra.
As deliberations on the state youth policy began in the session held at the Senate Hall of Manipur University, speaker after speaker criticized the policy for lack of vision and direction.
Resident Editor of IFP Irengbam Arun said, it cannot be called a policy document as such but observations and it fail to address the real issues of the youth in the state.
He said, a policy document should start with the basic question of where do we want our youth to go and achieve. It has to set the stage for channelizing the vibrant energy of our youth, as reflected in the field of sports and education, and art and culture.
Dr N Jiten of MU Centre for Myanmar Studies said, the youths should be consulted in framing a youth policy and the question of what do the youth want should have priority.
Meanwhile, the Sports Movement Committee Manipur is organizing a state level seminar in association with Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, Manipur University, Directorate of Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt. of Manipur and Sports Authority of India (NERC) Takyel, Manipur, under the theme “Sports movement in 21st century in Manipur” from April 3-5 at Centenary hall Manipur University, Canchipur.