Question : REVIEW OF YOUTH PARLIAMENT COMPETITIONS

(a) whether a review has been undertaken by his Ministry of the scheme of Youth Parliament competitions, particularly in the universities and the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas JNVs);

(b) if so, the details of the changes being contemplated to be introduced in the scheme;

(c) whether the prize distribution functions as well as the competitions in universities and JNVs are being organised annually as was planned at the introduction of these schemes; and

(d) if so, the reasons for not holding these competitions regularly?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR PLANNING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI V.NARAYANASAMY)

(a): Yes sir

(b): On the basis of the review undertaken, the following changes were incorporated:- Universities

(i) The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs have increased the financial assistance to each Institution for organizing Youth Parliament Session from Rs.5,000/- to Rs.10,000/- for the Group Level and National Level Competitions.

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas

(i) The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs have increased the financial assistance to each Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas participating in the competition from Rs.5,000/- to Rs.10,000/-.

(ii) This Ministry have increased the expenditure incurred on transportation from Rs.30,000/- to Rs.50,000/- to the first Prize Winning Vidyalaya in the Competition attending the Prize Distribution Function to stage their repeat performance.

(iii) This Ministry would reimburse an expenditure upto a maximum of Rs.20,000/- each to the two host venues of National Level Youth Parliament Competition.

(c): There have been delay in holding Youth Parliament Competitions and prize distribution functions in respect of Universities and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.

(d): Delay in holding National Youth Parliament Competition in respect of both the cases are due to various unavoidable reasons such as vacations and examination schedule etc.