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Urban youth have become an overpowering force in India. However, this cuts both ways in terms of the impact on the society.
While, on the one hand, youth rose up in protest against the Delhi gang-rape case, on the other, reports of anti-social behaviour and serious crimes by by youth such as rave parties and sexual violence are growing across the country.
“It is believed that anti-social behaviour among children and young people has reached a historic high,” says a new report that was recently released by UN Habitat. The report titled Youth India 2013: Employment, Livelihood, Skills by IRIS Knowledge Foundation was brought out by Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation.
The report blames this partly on the “lack of awareness and a failure in implementing the laws and policies relating to youth, in letter and spirit,” and calls for convergence of various such legislations.
Calling for paradigm shift in policies targeting youth, the report says “India’s resurgence potential as an economic and a socially responsible power rests on the Indian youth who…. must become agents of law reform campaigns and movements for social change.”
Health issues
The report also notes that Indian youth are affected by the so-called older age group diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Also, more than half the disabled in India are under 30 years. There are more young disabled people in urban than rural areas.
The report calls for focused research on the health concerns of youth in both urban and rural areas needs to evolve well-targeted programmes. However, the biggest challenge is lack of data on the subject, it adds.
“Available data categorises the youth as a monolith, leaving behind several vulnerable groups like low-income groups, the disabled, migrants and sexual minorities”, the report says.
Interest in politics
Overall, the report notes a rising interest of youth in politics. But, the level of interest is not quite clear yet. “The interest in politics is confined to young urban men. Those who admit to significant exposure to the media show greater interest in politics. Education is a factor in young people’s rising interest in politics”, it says. Interestingly, the report notes that young people have become more interested in the political process as an outcome of recent people’s movements that have been largely issue-based. “The urban youth is politically oriented, but still not politically very active, and a few steps away from becoming an active political community”, it adds.
Rising inequality
According to the report’s findings, inequality is palpable and visible everyday and affects life choices of the mass of young people living in cities.
“The aspiration-reality mismatch makes for two outcomes: it may engender violence; or, it may produce an entrepreneurial flowering. The second more favourable outcome can be encouraged with the availability of resources, support and opportunities for skill development,” it concludes.
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