DHAKA: The cabinet on Monday gave its final approval to the draft of ‘Youth Welfare Fund Bill-2015’ subject to vetting of the law ministry.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting at the secretariat.

Cabinet secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan briefed the journalists about the meeting.

He said the youth organizations will be given grants for educational, scientific, technical, sports, arts and cultural activities under the act.

Earlier, the government introduced the grants under ‘The Youth Welfare Fund Ordinance-1985’ promulgated during the martial law period, he added.

He also said under the existing ordinance, the Youth Welfare Fund was created with Tk 15 crore seed money in a state owned bank. The organizations were provided with Tk 20,000-25,000, from the profit of the seed money.

Since its inception, more than TK 11.99 crore was donated to 9,356 voluntary youth organisations, he added.

BDST: 2117 HRS, MAR 09, 2015