Sports minister Jitendra Singh today emphasised the need for instilling values of volunteerism among youth through various organisations including National Yuva Kendra Sanghathan and National Service Scheme.

Noting that thousands of youth are engaged in the nation building through these organisations, the Minister said values of volunteerism is needed to enhance social well being of both urban and rural masses. Addressing a programme on volunteering in India, in New Delhi, Mr Singh said, his ministry has several programmes and schemes to propagate the values of volunteerism among both urban and rural youth.

Stressing the important role volunteers could play in national development, the minister sought suggestion of the UN for drafting of the National Youth Policy.

On the occasion, the book titled- Volunteering in India:Context, Perspectives and Discourses , was also released by the Sports minister.

 Delhi police has launched a scheme called Yuva to stop youngsters especially from economically weaker sections of society from entering the crime world. Under the scheme police officials will reach out to Capital's youths to provide them vocational training and guide them on competitive exam preparations. 

The police will also conduct other activities including sports and painting workshops to keep street children and young adults gainfully engaged and acquire life skills to become good citizens. The scheme ‘Yuva' will also help them get jobs.

AIR correspondent reports that the Delhi Development Authority has provided 11 playgrounds to the police in different areas in the city close to slums for this scheme.

Soumyajit Ghosh and Ankita Das have booked their London Olympics berths on Sunday in the Asian Olympic Qualifying Table Tennis Tournament in Hong Kong, but it was heartbreak for top paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal. For both Ghosh and Ankita, the berths came via the continental quotas, after they topped from the South Asian region.

The Formula One grand prix in Bahrain has passed off without incident despite concerns that the opposition might try to disrupt it. Bahrain authorities deployed armoured vehicles, soldiers and sniffer dogs to protect the circuit following clashes between police and anti-government protesters. The race was won by the world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Australian swimming legend and four-time Olympic gold medallist Murray Rose has died after a fight with cancer. He was 73. Rose won four Olympic gold medals, a silver and a bronze in his impressive career after moving to Sydney from England as an infant during World War II. His first taste of Olympic gold was in the final of the 4x200 metres freestyle relay in Melbourne before winning the 400m and 1,500m freestyle events. Those wins etched Rose's name in the history books as the first swimmer since 1920 to win both individual events.