Youth club, youth parliament operation procedure issued

Kathmandu, December 11

The government has issued Youth Club Formation and Youth Parliament Operation Procedure with the objective of mobilising youths by forming youth clubs and conducting mock youth parliament at each ward of local levels, to evoke their sense of social responsibility and duty.

According to the procedure, it is expected to inform youths on governance system of the country and act as the foundation of nation building through youth-friendly policies, plans and programmes.

The procedure has defined ‘youth club’ as panel formed in each ward with representation of youth members aged 16-24 years, while the youth parliament will comprise representatives nominated from among the panel members.

“There shall be a youth club under patronage of the concerned ward chair or a member. Membership of a person associated with the club shall cease to be in effect after the concerned member crosses 24 years of age,” it reads.

Each club will have 15 members nominated from among youths, local entrepreneurs, young journalists, local sportspersons, artistes, youths associated with cooperative organisations, meritorious students of the ward and persons designated by the ward executive. It requires the club to ensure at least 50 per cent representation of women members.

Functions, duties and power of a club are to facilitate leadership and capacity development and mobilisation of its members; develop youth-friendly programmes in coordination with the local level; raise public awareness against deep-rooted social malpractices and anomalies; conduct programmes on child rights, environment protection and women’s rights; mobilise members as volunteers at the time of natural disasters; assist in implementing youth-centric programmes conducted by the government at local level and localise the Sustainable Development Goals in the concerned area with their active participation.

The youth parliament will concentrate its activities on leadership and capacity development of youths; extend support to personality and skill development; disseminate information to youths about governance system of the country; render suggestions to the government for formulation of youth-friendly policies, plans and programmes; make youths capable for conducting advocacy; make village and municipal areas youth-friendly and motivate youths to participate in nation building

Mock youth parliament may be formed at each local level, province and federation and it will have up to three members nominated by each youth club, with at least 50 per cent representation of women.

The mock parliament will run for four days every year in accordance with the parliamentary business of the country. The parliament will also elect a president, vice-president, speaker and deputy speaker through majority vote. “The mock parliament will account for 60 per cent of members from ruling party and 40 per cent from opposition, besides electing various portfolio of ministries,” the procedure reads.

After conduction of mock parliament, its report shall be submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Planning Commission, the National Youth Council and other concerned organisations.