MP: Yuwa Shastra Empowers Tribal Youth
Deepanwita Gita Niyogi is a Delhi-based independent journalist
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By Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
First publised on 2022-02-08 03:07:31
About the Author
Deepanwita Gita Niyogi is a Delhi-based independent journalist
View all posts by this Author
Yuwa Shastra, a special youth programme launched in 2013 in Madhya Pradesh's Mandla and Dindori districts, has inspired rural tribal youths to meet their aspirations. Talking about the programme, PRADAN executive and project anchor Vaibhav Ganesh Sonone said while a few youths wanted to go outside for jobs, others wanted to stay back and find work opportunities at the district level. So, the organisation provided them technical support.
In both the districts, many young people have succeeded in life and their families are proud of their achievements. Youths coming from rural areas often do not get opportunities and the right kind of exposure. So, the programme helped youths identify their aspirations and empowered them by helping make right decisions in life. In total, 1306 youths have taken part in youth programme training sessions in Dindori and Mandla.
Strengthening village youths
One of the highlights of the programme is the formation of youth clubs in several villages of Mandla and Dindori to ensure exchange of ideas. Club members have created play grounds and helped in accessing to sports kits lying idle in villages.
According to Ganesh, in Mohgaon block of Mandla a women's federation was established in 2012. Later, women members of the federation wanted a targeted programme for rural youths keeping their future needs in mind. "Basically, a support system was needed and a module was created called reimagining of the future. Under this, five-day workshops are organised through the help of youth service providers who mobilise young people in the villages," he said.
Youths are invited to the workshop and informed about various livelihood opportunities in urban and rural areas. After that they go back home, discuss prospects with family members and made to undergo counselling through which their aptitude is determined. While some are attracted to entrepreneurship, others want to get jobs. Many have joined beauty parlours after doing beautician courses or joined the hospitality industry. At present, the youth initiative is spread in Mohgaon and Narayanganj blocks of Mandla district and Karanjia and Samnapur of Dindori.
Success stories
Santoshi Dhurwe, a resident of Dindori district, is doing a job in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh by staying in a women's hostel. She works for a mobile company called Foxlink. She has been working for four months and draws a salary of Rs 10,000 monthly.
Dhurwe owes her success to a four-day Yuwa Shastra training programme organised in 2017. It is through PRADAN that she came to know about the current job. "The training programme motivated me to take up a job and earn a living. I like living on my own and have to do night shifts as well but have got used to it. Taking leaves is a problem though," she admitted.
Just like Santoshi, Rajni Maravi from Samnapur block was also working in a mobile company, Rising Star, in Tirupati but came back to Madhya Pradesh in the first week of December after her father was hospitalised. Field workers had informed her about the training programme which informed participants about various kinds of job opportunities. After that she had landed in the job inspired by a few others. Maravi also has a post-graduate degree. Youths in villages, who are not much educated, are reaping benefits due to the youth programme, she added.
For those who do not want to go outside, agri-entrepreneurship is a viable option for earning a decent livelihood. Jaypal Marko started a farmer producer organisation called Mohgoan Women Growers Producer Company in his village by bringing together women farmers under it. According to him, Yuwa Shastra gave him a purpose and direction in life.
