th in Legislature and Politics According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report, 2 out of 3 countries do not consult young people as a part of the process of preparing poverty reduction strategies or national development plans. Not only this but they are mostly underrepresented by formal political institutions even though the political decisions impact their lives Meaningful democracies require meaningful participation from the young factions of society. The youth with their fresh ideas and objective opinions have a lot to offer- from creative thinking to revolutionary action-taking. So, their participation in democracy will promote social responsibility, and enhance political institutions functioning. Young men and women of today are key drivers for inclusive and progressive growth and sustainable development. When these people are actively engaged and empowered in legislative decision-making, societies shall be more cohesive, and resilient

For any country, its youth population plays a key role in the overall growth, development and possible advancements. It is the youth of today that has the potential to become leaders, inventors, and innovators for tomorrow as they have the power to bring big change if their energies are put to good use. Indian youth in recent times have shown great interest and calibre in the advancements of India in fields like technology, business, entertainment, science and more. Besides, when the youth are receiving a good education and getting employed, generating incomes rather than being dependent on others, the country’s economy sees a positive surge too. International forums like the G20 have identified and accepted the youth’s role and responsibilities towards bringing global change. Similarly, the platform has created a youth-centric engagement group called Youth20 or Y20.

In India, NYKS is implementing Tribal Youth Exchange Programme in collaboration with the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The main objective of this programme is to enable tribal youth to appreciate unity in diversity, and expose them to development activities and technological/ industrial advancement in other parts of the country. The Ministry of Youth Affairs in India implements various Sports Promotional Schemes across the country through the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and other institutions to promote services like expert coaching, sports equipment, sports kit, competition exposure, etc. Additionally, the Ministry has also worked extensively to raise awareness about old traditional sports like Gatka, Roll Ball, Tug of War, Kalaripayattu, etc. by means of documentaries on social platforms in order to revive them into mainstream sports and aware today’s youth about their history.

Mission Olympics 2024: This scheme is developed by NITI Aayog in accordance with the next summer Olympics. Its focus will be on priority sports and training athletes under international coaching guidance. It plans to maximise local and indigenous sports potential by opting for and implementing a coach grading system. Sports being at the centre, the responsibility to promote and develop sports in a country specifically for indigenous groups and tribal societies rests with the state and union governments. To enable young players’ talent and inspire them to showcase their capacity in sports is a must to bridge sociocultural gaps. For instance, one of the verticals of the Khelo India Scheme, ‘Promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games’, is designed to promote and encourage the rise of traditional sports in India. Moreover, there are various other schemes and initiatives at work to carry the idea of unity in diversity in sports faction as well whilst strengthening

For that to continue, every nation must invest in the latest technology-ridden infrastructure that relates to best sports practices, training, research and wellness throughout the sporting institutions. Proper policies and the implementation of robust laws to promote sports amongst young citizens will go a long way as well. Take a look at some of the following sports initiatives and schemes launched by the Indian government to inspire and carry the ‘Sports for All’ dream for young citizens. Khelo India: Introduced by the Indian Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, under this programme, athletes and coaches will be trained as part of the Khelo India Scheme to improve their performance on the world stage. Fit India Movement: Introduced by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in 2019, this movement aims to influence people’s behaviours and motivate them to live more physically active lifestyles, to promote fitness as simple, enjoyable, and cost-free National Centre

Promotion of Indigenous Sports Today, the sports sector is becoming a significant element in a country’s socioeconomic development as well as a medium of cultural diplomacy between nations. Many countries including India regard sports as a delicate power, it is a way to maintain cordial relations among the countries. The United Nations also believes that ‘sports’ is one of the greatest diplomatic aspects in the promotion of international security as well as peace. With that in mind, sporting events like cricket, football, and tennis have garnered worldwide inter-cultural exchanges and interests that people unite in one voice while cheering this so-called, ‘Sports Diplomacy’ tactic by the authorities. For instance, FIFA World Cup 2022 was recorded to be the most streamed sporting world cup event in the past 10 years. From this stream of thought, promoting the upkeep and development of sports becomes all the more necessary.

Prevention of Substance Abuse Substance abuse may be defined as the overindulgence in a few substances such as alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, prescription drugs, etc. in irregular patterns to satisfy abnormal mood swings. This substance abuse issue is a worldly matter of concern as it can aggravate physical and mental health fear in young people, promote poor peer relationships, cause accidents and surge the stress levels in the body. Almost 65% of youth in America suffer from substance abuse problems. One of the most prevalent and highly used substances amongst youth in America is alcohol. They engage in unnatural drinking patterns that potentially lead to harmful behaviour and risky consequences. There are multiple programs and intervention facilities available for the prevention of substance abuse issues. It can be within families and communities that provide inspiring dialogue for youth by focusing on environmental developmental factors

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the improved health outcomes seen among younger factions are due to inadequate resources.” Achieving universal health and improving health access for young citizens is a task that every nation tries to work upon. So, in order to uphold that objective, countries can: Promoting the welfare of young people and the development of their social skills and experience Collaborate with non-private organisations and support groups to trigger conversations and engage youth communities in healthcare development Have more accessibility and inclusivity for younger, non-working groups in medical institutions by providing free-medicine aids, health insurance, preventive care advice, etc. Develop and implement policies and programmes that respect, protect and fulfil young patients’ needs and requirements without any bias and discrimination.

Improving Access to Health Financing for Young Citizens According to the State of the Blended Finance Report 2022, the sustainable development goals (SDGs) financial gap was 2.5 trillion USD before Covid-19 and surged to 1.7 trillion USD due to Covid-19-related financial requirements. This also exposed the drawbacks in the healthcare division and raised the need for proper health financing solutions and increased healthcare capacity infrastructure. In recent times, many global communities have aimed to achieve universal health for their people. Several global institutions and leaders have worked tirelessly to strive for a future where ‘all individuals and communities have access to quality healthcare.’ However, young people are somehow missed from these conversations. There is a lack of proper healthcare policies and interventions that cater to youth’s needs in particular.

Complete Well-being - Physical and Mental Health through Traditional Medicine and Yoga Many things have changed in the current post-pandemic existence especially when it comes to healthcare and wellness. Physical and mental health awareness have gathered much dominance over working opportunities. So, one of the prevalent themes for the youth of today is to take the narrative of complete wellness forward with government collaboration and community engagement. One of WHO South-East Asia Region’s eight Flagship Priorities states that Yoga is a powerful tool for individuals, communities and countries to improve not only physical but also mental health. Additionally, inculcating yoga in day-to-day lives will help millions of people to stay active, healthy and well, which is important to stay on par with the rapidly changing social and economic environment Changing lifestyles is another significant derivative to consider when it comes to wellness.