(a) whether the Government has any scheme called National Youth Parliament Competition;
(b) if so, the details thereof including its aim and salient features;
(c) the details of Youth Parliament Competitions held in various States during the last three years; and
(d) whether Youth Parliament Competitions have not been held in any state for the past several years and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE;
AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA)
(a) Yes.
(b) This Ministry implements 4 Schemes of Youth Parliament Competitions at National Level which are as under:-
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(i) Scheme for National Youth Parliament Competitions for Kendriya Vidyalayas
(ii) Scheme for National Youth Parliament Competitions for Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas
(iii) Scheme for National Youth Parliament Competitions for Universities/Colleges
(iv) Scheme of Financial Assistance to States/Union Territories for organising Youth Parliament Competitions.
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Aim. These schemes have been introduced with the aim of strengthening the roots of democracy, inculcating healthy habits of discipline, tolerance of the views of others and to enable the student community to know something about the working of Parliament.
Salient Features. These schemes are organised annually under the aegis of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Suitable logistics for organizing the Schemes are provided by participating Stakeholders. Each year at the beginning of the Competition Orientation Courses are held for acquainting the participants with modalities of the Competition. These Competitions are organized at two levels i.e., National/Zonal and Group/Regional. At the conclusion of the competition, Prize Distribution Functions are organized by the Ministry. Further details about individual Schemes is available at Ministry’s Official Website at “mpa.gov.in/mpa/results.aspx “
(c) The Ministry is not directly involved in organising the Youth Parliament Competitions in States. However, the Ministry provides Financial Assistance to States/Union Territories for holding/organising Youth Parliament Competitions in their respective states, through reimbursement of claims preferred by the State/Union Territory Governments, in the following order :-
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1. Legislatures having members up to 100 Rs. 3 Lacs per annum
2. Legislatures having members between 100-200 Rs. 4 Lacs per annum
3. Legislatures having members above 200 Rs. 5 Lacs per annum
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Note: (the ceiling in respect of Union Territories having no legislatures is Rs. 2,00,000/- per annum)
The Ministry has received the request for financial assistance from the following states during the last three years for organising the Youth Parliament Competitions in their respective states:-
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S.
No State Year for which Amount is claimed Amount Claimed Amount Reimbursed
2013-14
(i) Haryana 2013-14 3,00,000/- 3,00,000/-
(ii) Kerala 2012-13 4,00,000/- 4,00,000/-
(iii) Karnataka 2013-14 5,00,000/- 5,00,000/-
2014-15
(i) Madhya Pradesh 2013-14 2,21,809/- 2,21,809/-
(ii) West Bengal
(@ Rs. 5.0 Lacs per year)
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15 15,00,000/- 15,00,000/-
2015-16
(i) Madhya Pradesh 2014-15 2,80,442/- 2,80,442/-
(ii) Odisha 2014-15 4,00,000/- 4,00,000/-
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(d) The Youth Parliament Competitions held in States/UTs are organized under the aegis of the respective State Governments/UT Administrations. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs does not play any direct role in organising Youth Parliament Competitions in States/UTs. It only provides financial assistance to them upon request. The Ministry has no information about whether such Competitions are conducted in States/UTs who do not make request for financial assistance.