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New Delhi : The Department of Higher Education, Union Education Ministry, on May 29, 2021, launched Young, Upcoming and Versatile Authors (YUVA), the Prime Minister’s Scheme For Mentoring Young Authors, an Author Mentorship programme to train young and budding authors (below 30 years) to promote reading, writing, and book culture in the country, and project India and Indian writings globally.
The launch of YUVA (Young, Upcoming and Versatile Authors) is in tune with the PM’s vision to encourage young writers to write about India’s freedom struggle. It was during Mann ki Baat on January 31, 2021, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the young generation to write about freedom fighters, incidents associated with freedom, the saga of valour during the period of freedom struggle in their respective areas – as the best tribute to the heroes of India’s freedom – as we celebrate 75 years of Indian Independence. “This will also prepare a category of thought leaders that will decide the course of the future,” PM Modi had said.
YUVA is a part of India@75 Project (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav) to bring to the fore the perspectives of the young generation of writers on themes like Unsung Heroes, Freedom Fighters, Unknown and Forgotten Places and their role in National Movement, and other related themes in an innovative and creative manner, according to a PIB release. This scheme will thus help develop a stream of writers who can write on a spectrum of subjects to promote Indian heritage, culture and knowledge system.
The National Book Trust, India, under the Ministry of Education as the Implementing Agency, will ensure phase-wise execution of the Scheme under well-defined stages of mentorship. The books prepared under this scheme will be published by National Book Trust, India; and will also be translated into other Indian languages ensuring the exchange of culture and literature, thereby promoting ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’. The selected young authors will interact with some of the best authors of the world and participate in literary festivals etc.
NEP 2020 has emphasised on the empowerment of the young minds and creating a learning ecosystem that can make the young readers/learners ready for leadership roles in the future world.
Highlights of YUVA (Young, Upcoming and Versatile Authors):
- A total of 75 authors will be selected through an All India Contest to be conducted through https://www.mygov.in/ from 1 June – 31 July 2021.
- The winners will be announced on August 15, 2021.
- The young authors will be trained by eminent authors/mentors.
- Under the mentorship, the manuscripts will be readied by Dec 15. 2021, for publication.
- The published books will be launched on January 12, 2022, on the occasion of National Youth Day (Yuva Diwas).
- A consolidated scholarship of Rs 50,000 per month for a period of six months per author will be paid under the Mentorship Scheme