Peshawar :
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has planned seven development schemes for motivation and uplift of youth by focusing on construction of district youth centres, stipend for jobless and launching of skill development programme to make best use of their potential.
To provide career counselling and recreational facilities to youth, the Pakistan Tahirk-e-Insaf led government has decided to construct District Youth Centers (DYC) at divisional headquarters through community driven development initiatives for organising sports events, youth mobilization, awareness campaigns.
An official of Finance Department told APP on Monday that Youth Marakaz will be established in the existing government buildings on patterns of universities and colleges to fully tap their hidden talent.
He said work on these projects would be initiated in current fiscal year costing Rs 70 million.
He said a stipend for unemployed youth scheme is also being initiated under which Rs 2,000 per month would be provided to the fresh masters degree holders of 2013-14, adding Rs 500 million has been allocated in the budget for this purpose.
In addition to establishment of Technology Up-gradation and Skill Development Company (TUSDEC) costing Rs 150 million, he said the government has planned to launch Youth Skill Development (YSDP) Programme under which the government will bear the training charges as well provide stipend to students aged 18-25, who undergoes technical training.
He said the government would spent Rs 100 million in current fiscal year.
Youth Challenge Fund (YCF) is also being established to encourage local entrepreneurship in the province with Rs 2 million seed money for 50 top business proposals prepared by young business planning youth that would be assessed through a transparent system of competition, adding Rs 120 million has been allocated in the budget.
The government will initiate sports facilities for youth to promote healthy co-curricular activities in the province.Under this scheme, he said, sports equipment/items would be provided to high schools with playground facility with allocation of Rs 100 million for current fiscal year in the budget.
Khud Kifalat interest free scheme is also being initiated in KP according to which an interest free loan of Rs 50,000 to 200,000 will be provided to bonafide residents of this province in the age range of 18 to 50 years.
He said the loan shall be secured through personal guarantee by two guarantors and Rs 2.7 billion has been allocated for this purpose during 2013-14.
Madrasa interest free micro finance credit scheme has been planned under which an interest free loan of Rs 25,000 to 50,000 shall be extended to Madaris in 12 backward districts to be selected on the basis of credible survey and a sum of Rs 1 billion has been allocated for this purpose during 2013-14.
Ranrra solar energy initiative loan is also being launched under which a loan upto Rs 30 million on 7% markup for a period of 6 years with 1 year grace period shall be granted to bonafide residents of KP, upto 60 years age for the establishment of employment oriented businesses in the province with debt-equity ratio of 60:40.
The loan shall be recovered in quarterly instalments and Rs 300 million has been allocated for this purpose in the budget.
Under the Community Driven Local Development programme, he said a policy and governance framework for community driven local development is being adopted by the government of KP under which funds would be directly transferred to the village based organisations/councils that would be monitored through strict system of performance audit.
The EU has allocated Rs 1 billion and counterpart funds of Rs 500 million shall be provided by government of KP.
He said the govt’s these schemes would help to expand opportunities for young people and will generate employment opportunities for them.
He said the government is committed to strengthening and empower youth because their leadership and commitment is essential to the success of our collective efforts.
The government strongly believed in the potential of all young people and will continue to support them so that they could richly contribute in the country’s development, he added.
source: http://www.pakwatan.com / Home / Peshawar – July 15th, 2013