Shillong, May 31: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday called for greater youth participation in nation-building initiatives and announced plans to expand MY Bharat’s reach to every district, block and young citizen across the country.
Addressing the opening day of a two-day Chintan Shivir at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong, Mandaviya said MY Bharat has evolved into a mass movement with more than 2.17 crore youth volunteers. He stressed the importance of strengthening grassroots engagement to ensure wider participation and last-mile connectivity.
The deliberations brought together officials from the Department of Youth Affairs, MY Bharat and the National Service Scheme (NSS) to discuss strategies for enhancing youth engagement, improving programme implementation and advancing youth-led development.
Emphasising the role of District Youth Officers and NSS functionaries, the minister said the success of youth programmes should be assessed through measurable outcomes and their impact on communities. He also urged large-scale participation in a nationwide anti-drug campaign scheduled from June 26 to August 15.
Mandaviya announced that programmes would be organised in 150 educational institutions to commemorate 150 years of Vande Mataram. He further reiterated the ministry’s commitment to establishing MY Bharat Centres in all 783 districts of the country.
Earlier, the minister participated in a rhododendron trek in Shillong alongside MY Bharat volunteers. During the event, he encouraged young people to adopt active lifestyles, connect with nature and contribute to environmental conservation. The trek was organised to promote fitness, adventure and environmental awareness while strengthening engagement between youth volunteers and government initiatives.
