New Delhi, Jan 10 : Vice President M. Hamid Ansari will inaugurate the 14th National Youth Festival on Monday at Amritisar.

It is for the first time that National Youth Festival would be held in Punjab from January 12-16. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will be presiding over the function.

About 4000 young persons from all States and Union Territories are expected to participate in the youth festival. National Youth Festival is organized every year from January 12 to 16. January 12th being the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda is observed as National Youth Day.

On the occasion, the Vice President will also give away National Youth Awards and Awards to the National Youth Outstanding Clubs.

The Award consists of a silver medal, a certificate and a cash prize. The Government has also doubled award money for individual awardees from Rs. 20,000 to Rs.
40,000 and for voluntary organizations from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 2 lakhs.

During the five day festival, there will be competitive events in 16 individual items and two group items.

In the year 1995, the First National Youth Festival was successfully held at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. (ANI)