President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the government’s upcoming National Service Program will serve as a critical initiative to steer young people away from gang involvement and other dangerous criminal activities.
The President made the remarks during a ceremony held to ratify the newly enacted law empowering courts to designate gangs and prevent organized crime. The law introduces mechanisms to formally recognize and act against criminal groups.
Responding to a journalist’s question about the government’s approach to providing employment opportunities—especially for youth under 18 involved in gang activities—President Muizzu highlighted the role of the National Service Program.
He revealed that more than 400 youth have already applied to join the program, including over 200 minors who submitted applications with parental consent. The application window remains open until the end of this month.
“This reflects the concern of parents over the current social conditions and their trust in this government’s ability to reform their children into responsible, skilled citizens,” he said.
President Muizzu emphasized that the National Service is “the most important door” opened by the government and pledged that more job opportunities would follow under the broader youth employment agenda.
Initially announced during last year’s Victory Day celebrations, the National Service Program has been allocated MVR 400 million in the 2025 state budget. The program aims to recruit 1,000 youth annually into the military and 250 into the police, reaching a total of 5,000 recruits over the next four years.