1. Youth Hostel Movement was the brainchild of an eminent German Richard schirrman, who believed in the virtues of group excursions to study geography, history and the world of nature. He took delight in organizing weeklong trails for students. During an excursion in 1909, one night on 26th August, a terrible storing in thunder and lightning. While his young wards were fit fully asleep in one school premises. Richard lay awake pensively toying at the idea of utilizing the school building during holidays. It flashed to him that empty school rooms were waiting to be turned into dormitories and dining rooms. That fateful night marked the birth of the Youth Hostel Movement. Thus the first youth Hostel was opened in 1912 in Altena, Germany.
2. In 1956, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru summed up the philosophy of youth hostelling in a very precise manner, with that passion which characterized his love and concern for youth:
I welcome the growth of the Youth Hostel Movement in India. Apart from the obvious advantages of travel in various parts of the country, there is, I think, a basic significance in men and women doing so in the impressionable. Years of their lives-, we have, even more, to get some idea of the great development schemes and the changes that are taking place in India. We have to do this not as tourists looking at strange objects but rather as children of India discovering our own country, with a desire to participate in the fashioning of India."
3. The International Youth Hostel Federation was inaugurated in 1932 as an. outcome of the First International Youth Hostel Conference held at Amsterdam. At present there are 5600 Youth Hostels in 56 countries covering all the continents.
4. In a vast country like India with its rich cultural heritage, there is great need to encourage Richard schirrman, scheme. The Indian Chapter of the Youth Hostel Scheme was initiated in 1949 when YHA of India was formed at Mysore. The Association built its own Youth Hostel at New Delhi in December 1977. The Government of India extended its support to the movement in 1966 when it decided to provide one model Youth Hostel for each State with its own funds during the Fourth and Fifth Five Year Plans. Later, a provision for 60 Youth Hostels was made in the Seventh Five Year Plan, which is being implemented by the Department of Youth Affairs, Government of India. Youth Hostel Jodhpur was started on 08.01. 1993. At present, Youth Hostel has a total of 07 Air Cooled & 06 A.C. dormitories, 05 Air Cooled rooms, 12 A.C rooms and an auditorium of 250 person�s capacity. Total strength of Youth hostel jodhpur is 200 person.
5. Acharya Narendra Dev's call that "the horizon of knowledge of our youth should expand in all dimensions" is reflected in YHAI's endeavors. Ram Manohar Lohia predicted that "a new endeavour of the Indian mind will then start which shall combine the rationale with the emotive, which shall make of unity in diversity not an inert but a vital doctrine which shall accept the clean joy of the sensible world without losing insight into the oneness for all life and things."
6. Smt. Indira Gandhi once said: "Man is such a tiny creature in this vast universe. His conquests are those of imagination and will and endeavour. Man has a need to test strength to put himself against forces which are bigger than himself. Hence his search for a new world to conquer"
7. Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narain wished, "to the process of Indian unity (which) is a process of intellectual and spiritual enlightenment!"
1. Youth hostel is a HOME AWAY FROM HOME. Youth Hostels are not like hostels, impersonal places which guests merely pay stay charges. In a Youth Hostel, one never feels a stranger, there are Managers. Ever prepared to listen to the problems of young guest, advice them, help them and make them feel at home among friend .In return, the young travelers are expected to help the Managers, to keep the Hostel clean and also help, in housekeeping. They offer wholesome, rejuvenating and fruitful opportunities to the youth to fulfill their desire to see to appreciate and learn out of doors. They also offer fun, friendship and welcome to all those who travel on their own steam. Youth Hostels thus promote youth travel by providing inexpensive hostelling facilities to young persons on their educational excursions to historical and cultural centers intended to foster feelings of better understanding of each other, gain knowledge about the diversities of the country and encounter natural beauties and past history.
2. In many countries there are privately owned Hostels, Government-run Hostels, Hostels owned by societies and organizations; but they all conform to the norms of the International Youth Hostel Federation.
3. Youth Hostel is based on the principle of community accommodation in the form of dormitories-separate for ladies and gents, a dinning hall with self service, a common room or lounge where hostellers meet, discuss and get to know each other. It is a place of forming friendship, recreation and informal education
4. In many countries these Hostels are open to youth and members of the Youth Hostel Associations. Age limit is also laid down in some countries. In India accommodation in Youth Hostels jointly owned by Central and State Government is given to Students and Youth on priority basis, though it has been kept open to all irrespective of age but they have to abide by the rules laid down for stay. This liberal attitude for encouraging people of all walks of life arid different age groups is to popularize the Youth Hostel.
5. Some of the salient features of the Government owned Youth Hostel are:
It is managed by Hostel Management Committee constituted by the State/Union Territory as per the guidelines laid down by the ministry of youth Affairs and Sports Government of India.
1. In India the Youth Hostel movement was initiated by the Youth Hostels Association of India in 1949. Till 1966, the Association had created a number of simple youth hostelling facilities by using University / College Hostels during vacation
2. The Government scheme for constructing Youth Hostels was embarked upon by the Ministry of Education in the early sixties. With effect from 4" January 1985, the subject was transferred to the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports. At present, while 82 Youth Hostels have already been constructed across the country, 2 more Youth Hostels are under various stages of construction
3. On the advice of the Planning Commission, a Central Committee on Youth Hostels was constituted in February 1962 This Committee outlined a programme for constructing four model youth hostels in Delhi, Mumbai, Madras and Kolkata and 10 similar youth hostels at places of historic and cultural interest. Under the aegis of the Ministry of Education however the scheme could not be implemented for some years. In 1963, the Youth Hostels Association of India also embarked upon a project to construct a Youth Hostel in the Diplomatic Enclave in New Delhi but it started functioning from 1977 only. In 1966 the responsibility of establishing Youth Hostels was transferred to the then Department of Tourism on the recommendation of a Working Group set by the Planning Commission in October 1965. The Department of Tourism implemented the scheme of constructing 17 Youth Hostels.
Youth Hostel Scheme:
4. The construction of Youth Hostels is a joint venture of the Central and State Governments; As such the State Government makes available to the Central Government a fully developed plot of land, free of cost, measuring 1.5 to 2 acres, for construction of a Youth Hostel, keeping in view the various considerations that decide its suitability. In case of State Capitals, big Cities and hilly areas a fully developed plot of land measuring 0.75 to 1 acre may be considered as acceptable for the construction of Youth Hostel building. The State Government gives the land on lease to the Central Government for a period of 99 years on a nominal rent of Re. 1 per month. The Government of India constructs the Youth Hostel and the completed building is leased to the State Government for a period of.99 years on a nominal rent of Re. per month. Lease deeds, both for land and Hostel are executed by the parties. The land and the building are to be used as a Youth Hostel only and are not to be put to any other use. The ownership of Youth hostels would be vested with the Central Government i.e. Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Department of Youth affairs.
5. In case suitable vacant plots are not available, the Government of India can resort to outright purchase of a suitable building with a spacious compound, without insisting on the size of the plot available.
Provision of funds:
6. The Central and State Governments share responsibility regarding provision of funds for starting the Hostel, as mentioned in Chapter 8. A sum of Rs.5.00 lakhs is paid by the Central Government for equipping/furnishing the Hostel and a working capital of Rs.2.00 lakhs (SFC decision vide Meeting of 12.02.2010. Annexure L, Para -V&VI) is paid to the Hostel by the State Government. This is periodically reviewed.
7. A need based one time grant /financial assistance for renovation up-gradation of Youth Hostels, maximum up to Rs.20.00 lakh. May be considered on receipt of proposals from Youth Hostel (sce SFC decision vide meetings held on 04.07.2014).
Hostel Management Committee:
1. A committee is formed by the State as per the composition laid down by the Government of India (Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports). Approval of the Government of India is required to be taken by the State Government before constituting the Committee.
As per the Central Policy Committee meeting held on 11.07.2015 and order date. 09.10.2015, the composition of the Hostel Management Committee shall be as below:
YOUTH HOSTEL AT STATE CAPITAL
a. Secretary (Youth Affairs), State/UT Government: : Chairman
b. Deputy Commissioner/Dist. Magistrate : Member
c. Eminent person nominated by Hon'ble MOS (IC): : Member
d. Regional Director (NSS)/Programme Coordinator (NSS):: Member
e. Zonal Director, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan : Member
f.Centre In charge, Sports Authority of India : Member
g. Representative of Youth Hostel Association of India : Member
h. Executive Asset. Engineer of P.W.D. : Member
i. Manager, Youth Hostel: : Member Secy.
YOUTH HOSTEL NOT AT STATE CAPITAL
a. Deputy Commissioner/Dist. Magistrate : Chairman
b. Executive Asset. Engineer, P.W.D: Member
c.Eminent person nominated by Hon'ble MOS (IC): : Member
d. Dist. Youth Coordinator, NYK : Member
e. Programme Coordinator (NSS): : Member
f. Centre In charge, Sports Authority of India : Member
g.Representative of Youth Hostel Association of India : Member
h. Manager, Youth Hostel: Member Sect
Note:
(i) Any other member may be co-opted who is of help in promoting the movement
(ii)The Hostel Management Committee must be formed by the State / Union Territory within three obstruction of the Hostel. If the State Union territory fails to constitute the committee within the stipulated time, the Central Government stipulated time; the Central Government reserves the right to form a committee to ensure smooth and uniform functioning of the hostel.