New Delhi, June 16 (IANS): The Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) on Tuesday said it will deploy youth volunteers to help clean the Ganga river.

"We have proposed a project to clean the Ganga. We will involve youth in water harvesting, waste management and cleaning. For this, local volunteers will be trained," said Maj. Gen. Dilawar Singh, director general of NYKS, an autonomous body under the youth affairs and sports ministry.

The 46th meeting of the NYKS board of directors was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here.

Maj. Gen. Dilawar Singh said about 55 percent of posts in NYKS were vacant and his priority was to fill those. He also said there were various challenges affecting the functioning of the NYKS, including lack of infrastructure in state-level organisations.

He said there will be huge participation by youth across the country on the International Day of Yoga on June 21.

"We have held state-level preparations for Yoga Day and our aim is to mobilise 1.8 crore youth," he said.

About 85 lakh youth take active part in the affairs of the NYKS, he said.