Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, today directed all the District Development Commissioners to engage more youth in extracurricular activities.The Divisional Commissioner made these remarks while chairing a high-level meeting to review sports and youth engagement policy in the valley.To chalk-out the modalities and prepare a roadmap for the youth engagement programs, Khan today constituted District Level Task Force (DLTF) for all districts of Kashmir Division including Leh and Kargil.On the occasion, the Divisional Commissioner said the DLTFs shall be headed by the concerned District Development Commissioner, whereas officers from Youth Services and Sports, State Sports Council, Department of Education, Rural Development Department, Nehru Yuva Kendra, Police, CRPF, BSF and Army will be its members.“They will oversee the youth engagement programs launched by various departments. The DLTF committees will also act as a bridge between various organizations which are doing such programs so as to avoid duplication and to involve more youths at village as well as block level of the Kashmir Division in extracurricular activities so that their energies could be better harnessed for constructive purposes,” Khan said.
He directed all DLTFs to review the new plans being executed by various departments for engaging youth in various extracurricular activities like sports events, cultural programmes, Painting, Photography, Singing competitions, Seminars, debates, educational tours, awareness programmes, volunteer services, construction of new sports infrastructure, preparing calendar for youth activities, felicitation programmes, making green clubs, coaching clubs, skill development, career counselling and other youth-related activities. “DLTFs should send their holistic youth engagement plan to the divisional commissioner office within seven days for necessary action,” he said.Khan stressed on maintaining the current sports infrastructure besides constructing new sports infrastructure in left out areas to ensure mass participation of youth in sports activities. He also stressed on optimal use of funds and resources available to provide more benefit for the youth of the valley, including Leh and Kargil. The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir asked all concerned officers to work in close coordination so that youth engagement programmes become a big success.Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police and Inspector General of CRPF highlighted various kinds of support systems which they assured will be provided for youth engagement programs.Inspector General of Police S.P. Pani, Inspector General of CRPF Zulfikar Hassan, District Development Commissioner Srinagar Dr Syed Abid Rashid Shah, DIG (central) VK Birdhi, Divisional Sports Officer, Joint Director Youth Services and Sports, Joint Secretary State Sports Council, District Youth Coordinator Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK), Assistant Commissioner, Army officers and other concerned officials were present in the meeting whereas all District Development Commissioners of the Kashmir Division including Leh and Kargil participated in the meeting through video conferencing.