KATHMANDU, August 12

The Ministry of Youth and Sports, on Wednesday made public the National Youth Council Act-2015 coinciding with International Youth Day.President Ram Baran Yadav authenticated the Act on Wednesday.

The act will come into effect from the 91st day of its authentication.

By exercising the powers conferred by the act, National Youth Council (NYC) will be established for the protection and promotion of the rights of youths aged between 16 and 40 years.

The NYC will draft a long-term policy on youth and submit it to the government and prepare youth related plans and programmes based on that policy. It will also formulate a policy to engage youth voluntarily in development of the country and social work; encourage youth to devote themselves to nation-building and suggest to the government the strategies for youth development, their empowerment and mainstreaming the issues of youths.

The 13-member NYC will be chaired by the Minister for Youth and Sports or State Minister and a person appointed by Nepal government will be the vice-chairperson of Council. According to the act, an executive committee of four members will be formed under the chairmanship of the vice-chairperson of NYC to execute the plans and policies prepared by NYC.

The act has envisioned District Youth Committee (DYC) in every district to execute plans and programmes related to youths at the district level.

A seven-member DYC will be chaired by a person who has at least five years of experience in planning and executing youth related programmes at the local level. The said person must have minimum Proficiency Certificate Level qualification. The person will be nominated by the National Youth Council.

The chief of DYC office will be its member secretary. The act states that the nomination of members in the Council and Committees will be done in an inclusive way where fifty per cent will be women.

The NYC will be giving affiliation to organisations that have been working for the protection and promotion of youth rights and empowerment of youths.