May 2013 issue

UNLEASHING THE YOUTH POWER

India is currently experiencing a demographic dividend with almost 60% of its population being under the age of 35. It is expected that, the average age of an Indian will be 29 years in year 2020, as compared to 37 years for China and 48 years for Japan. But is India doing enough to reap the benefits of this dividend? How do we empower our youth? How can we channelise their energies to participate in nation building? How can we empower our youth and unleash their potential? 

Empowering teenagers and youth is important because it affords them an opportunity to establish their ability and competence. Youth empowerment is not just creating employment opportunities but it is more about inclusion of youth in the national mainstream. A flawless education system, inclusive employment opportunities and opportunities in governance are some of the ways that youth empowerment can be brought about. OIOP May 2013 issue ‘Unleashing the youth power’ discusses various ways of empowering youth and harnessing their talent.

In ‘Moulding leaders of tomorrow’, Jehangir B. Gai, a consumer activist and winner of the Govt. of India’s National Youth Award for Consumer Protection, says that the youth should be allowed to participate meaningfully in a democratic set up, and given responsible positions where they can take India forward and make it a power to reckon with.

In ‘Unleashing youth power’, Kshitij Bansal, the Founding President of International Policy Analysis Network (IPAN), says that youth empowerment is not just creating employment opportunities but it is about structural and institutional inclusion of youth in the national mainstream. Kshitij is attempting to provide a platform for youth to engage in core public policy analysis through IPAN.

In ‘An idea whose time has come’, Srijan Pal Singh, an author, columnist and expert in Sustainable Development, says that empowered youth is an idea whose time has come. While schemes and policies are necessary for bringing about transformation, what is more important is a philosophical change of elevating the youth to fairer opportunities and greater responsibilities, writes Srijan has worked with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam towards the evolution of the development system of PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) and has co-authored the bestseller on poverty alleviation – Target 3 Billion. He has an MBA from IIMA, where he was the student President and was awarded the Gold Medal for the best All Rounder student.

‘The youth is what we make them’, says Tushar A. Gandhi, a social activist, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and the Managing Trustee of Mahatma Gandhi Foundation in Mumbai, who opines that the rising instances of youth involved in criminal activities raise the alarming spectre of a decline in morality and ethics in society. But can we blame the youth, he asks because they become what they see around them.

In ‘Blueprint for a flawless education system’, Parth Shah, who is with School Choice Campaign of the Centre for Civil Society, New Delhi, opines that a competent and inclusive education system can produce empowered youth. He feels RTE can make this possible provided the state changes its role from controller to facilitator, from producer to financier and from inspector to informer.

In ‘Skilling youth the inclusive way’, Meera Shenoy, a member of National Council on Skill development, Office of the Advisor to the Prime Minister on skilling, emphasises that India will be able to reap its demographic dividend only if it fulfils its goal of skilling its 500 million plus youth in an inclusive way. Meera is also Senior Advisor, UNDP, for skilling and employment. She is Founder of Youth4Jobs, which focuses on helping companies hire an inclusive workforce. She was awarded the NCPEDP-Shell Helen Keller award for being a role model individual for increasing employment opportunities for the disabled.

In ‘Youth in governance, but how?’, Anil Bairwal and Ruchika Singh opine that participation of youth in governance can force politicians to take substantive steps in the right direction and make our political system more accountable and inclusive. Bairwal is National Coordinator, Association for Democratic Reforms and Singh is a consultant with Association for Democratic Reforms.

In ‘Youth has to be understood, not victimised’, Dr. Varsha Rajan Berry and Nasreen Contractor say that youth caught in the throes of conflict and violence must be seen as potential actors and leaders in peace building, as they are the future, and hence must be engaged with to build the foundations of society based on just peace.

Dr. Berry is a professional with 14 years of experience in the field of research, activism and network building in the area of peace, democracy and human rights. She is currently associated with South Asians for Human Rights, Women’s Research and action Group and the India-Pakistan people’s movement for peace and democracy. Contractor is an educationist and peace activist and is a professional with experience of work with community groups, NGOs and international networks for the past 30 years. 

In ‘Raising a better India’, Cauvery Bhalla, a spiritual trainer and chief archivist at Chinmaya Mission, advocates a practical, easy to follow 10 + 1 plan that parents can use to inspire their children and mould them to be responsible citizens of tomorrow.

In ‘Youth for a social change’, OIOP presents views of few young men and women who are actually striving to make a difference in society through their work.

“Stand up for what you believe in,” says Chitranshu Tewari, current Indian Youth

Advisor to UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme). A literature student at the Delhi University, Chitranshu has won several awards like several awards like Action For Nature Young Eco Hero, British Council Global Changemaker and World Summit Youth Award for his organisation, Green Brigade (www.greenbrigade.net).

“We hope to spur the youth into action,” say Rhea Tibrewala and Malvika Bhatia, both working with ‘Know Your Vote’, an organisation which aims to create long term and sustainable change in the mindset of India’s youth by increasing political awareness.

“Give youth the freedom to choose,” is what Raj Janagam believes, if youth in India have to be empowered. Raj is Founder of UnLtd Hyderabad (currently in beta phase, website: http://unltdhyderabad.org/) which is a social incubator being set-up to support social entrepreneurs across Andhra Pradesh. His primary interests are social entrepreneurship and politics which he believes can bring the much needed change in our country.

 

“Young minds have begun to explore creative solutions benefitting the community,” observes Shanmuga Priya. T, Manager – Programmes & Communications, BREADS Bangalore, an organisation working with vulnerable children and marginalised youth in Karnataka and Kerala.

Indian Cinema celebrates 100 years on 3 May 2013. In ‘Parsi pioneers of Indian cinema’, veteran film journalist Piroj Wadia, writes on the outstanding contribution of three Parsi filmmakers - Ardeshir Irani, J J Madan and Sohrab Modi to Indian cinema.

May 31 is the ‘World No Tobacco Day’ to draw attention to the widespread menace of tobacco abuse and its adverse effects on health. Hemant Goswami highlights the ill effects of tobacco and advocates its ban for a healthier India.  Goswami is a public health activist associated with Burning Brain Society and Tobacco Gree India Coalition.

In ‘Know India Better’, we feature ‘Hyderabad – City of Love’. Hyderabad, the city of pearls, displays the charming panorama of the past alongside its modern institutions. Anuradha Goyal takes a stroll around its old monuments, museums, lakes and parks, tastes its famous cuisine and is amazed to see how erstwhile royalty and culture still looms large over the city’s landscape. The writer is a leading travel blogger and her travel tales can be read at http://anuradhagoyal.blogspot.com.

In ‘Face to Face’, Jayanthi Mahalingam, a freelance editor and writer from Mumbai, interviews Rashmi Misra, Founder-Chairperson of VIDYA, a Delhi-based NGO, which provides holistic, integrated education to thousands of underprivileged children, women and youth.

The turning point in Misra’s life came 27 years ago, when she noticed five little girls playing near a dirty nullah near her house and she asked them why they were not in school. Their reply, that it was only boys who went to school, not girls, galvanised her into starting an informal learning centre in her garden.

In ‘Great Indians’, we profile Sarkhel (Admiral) Kanhoji Angre, The sailor with strategic vision (1669-1729);

 

Balshastri Jambhekar, The Father of Modern Maharashtra (1812-1846) and

 

Ganesh Pyne, Master of Modern Art (1937-2013).

And also read our regular columns and other features. To book a copy, email to oiopfoundation@gmai.com / oiop@vsnl.net or call Nagesh Bangera, OIOP Subscription-in-charge at 022- 2353 44 00.

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