At a time when the young generation plans to soak in the New Year bash, the Youth Congress wants to be different by assembling its national office bearers at Sevagram ashram near Wardha for four days begining January 1.

Besides following the ashram's routine of agricultural work, community spinning and cooking, the youth leaders will get training in enhancing their communication skills and use of the organisation's Google-developed portal Pehchaan, which was developed after Rahul Gandhi's insistance to promote interaction.

The four-day training programme includes knowing about the Youth Congress and its parent body Congress, its working and how to remain in touch 24x7 using Pehchaan.The IYC is the first political organisation to go for Google apps.

The programme will imbibe a sense of interest in the future leaders of the youth wing to serve the society, particularly the poor. Rahul has already made the Youth Congress set up its own training institute, Jawaharlal National Leadership Institute to train these future leaders of the party.

Experts from corporates and professional agencies are involved in running the institute to build character and discipline while the political content is furnished through lectures by seasoned Congress leaders.

Besides taking selected youth leaders to this institute for training, the Youth Congress will organise a five-day training camp in different states to develop ideological clarity, communication skill, team spirit and guide them to identify themselves with the locals and be a social activist more than just a political worker.