What is the YUVA scheme for young and aspiring writers in India ?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the ‘Young, Upcoming and Versatile Authors’ (YUVA) scheme on Tuesday. a mentorship programme to train young authors. The national scheme YUVA, a mentorship program, is launched with an aim to encourage and train young authors.
The scheme is aimed at training 75 aspiring writers below 30 years. The training will be completed in two phases and aspiring authors will be selected through an All India Contest at MyGov. Also a scholarship of Rs 50,000 per month for a period of six months per author will be paid under the YUVA scheme.
What is the Selection Procedure of Young Authors?
• A total of 75 authors will be selected through an All India Contest at MyGov.
• A Committee constituted by NBT(National Book Trust) will do the selection.
• Time period of the contest is from 4th June to 31st July 2021.
• The contestants will be asked to submit a manuscript of 5,000 words to judge its suitability to develop as a proper book under the Mentorship Scheme.
• The names of selected authors will be announced on the occasion of Independence Day on 15th August 2021.
• Based on mentorship, the selected authors will prepare manuscripts for final selection under the guidance of the nominated mentors.
• The entries of the winners will be readied for publication by 15th December 2021.
• The published books may be launched on 12th January 2022 on YUVA DIVAS or the National Youth Day.
What is there in Phase 1 training (3 Months)?
As per the reports, in the phase I training of three months, the National Book Trust (NBT) will organise a two weeks’ writers’ online programme for the selected candidates. During this process selected candidates will be trained by two eminent authors/mentors from NBT’s panel of accomplished authors and writers. After the completion of the online programme, the authors will be trained for two weeks at various online/on-site national camps organised by NBT.
What is Phase II – Promotion (3 Months)?
During the three months of phase II training, the selected candidates will get to expand their understanding and enhance their skills through interaction at various international events, literary festivals, book fairs, virtual book fairs, cultural exchange programmes, etc. Also, a book or a series of books written by the young authors will be published by NBT, and a royalty of 10 per cent will be paid to the authors. The published work of the authors will be translated into other Indian languages to promote and exchange of culture and literature between different states.
Through the YUVA scheme, the government is planning to bring reading and authorship as a preferred profession along with other job options. It can also be helpful in imparting expected to a positive psychological push to the young minds amidst the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
