National Youth Day Celebrated at Govt. Degree College Khansahib

12th Jan 2022

The GDC Khansahib organised different activities on the eve of 25^th National Youth Day on 12^th January 2022.

1^st Session

Inaugural Address:

The college Principal, Dr. Syed Tanvir Indrabi, gave the inaugural address whereby he welcomed the faculty, students and the NSS volunteers for participating in the webinar. In his address he highlighted the role of educational institutions, family and the society at large in moulding the character of our youth and how to wean them away from different ills that could affect their psychological, physical and mental well-being. He said that moral education can play an important role in building a healthy nation.

Speech by Dr. Sajad Padder

The inaugural address was followed by a speech on the theme: “Youth Bulge in India: Challenges & Opportunities” which was delivered by Dr. Sajad Padder, Assistant Professor of Political Science and NSS Programme Officer at the institution.

Excerpts:

India has its largest ever youth population. According to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) projections, India will continue to have one of the youngest populations in the world till 2030. In 2021, the estimated total population in India amounted approximately to about 1.39 billion people. It has more than 50% of its population below the age of 25 and around 65% below the age of 35.

Youth issues in India:

According to National Statistical Organisation (NSO) report released in 2020 India’s average literacy rate stands at 77.7%. India’s country-wide female literacy rate is 70.3%, while the male literacy rate is estimated at 84.7%. But approximately 90 per cent of schools are not yet compliant with the complete set of Right to Education (RTE) infrastructure indicators. They lacks drinking water facilities, a functional common toilet, and do not have separate toilets for girls. Also there is this digital divide. While as 42 percent homes in urban India have access to internet services only 15% are connected to the internet in rural India.

India continues to be a country that faces one of the highest shortages of skilled workforce. According to reports conducted in 2021, 56 per cent of companies in India face shortage of skilled workforce. So, on the one hand companies in India face an acute shortage of skilled manpower while on the other side millions of educated youth remain unemployed. A 2018 report of the National Council of Applied Economic Research, New Delhi, explains that there are three types of skills. First, the cognitive skills (foundational skills), which are the basic skills of literacy and numeracy, applied knowledge and problem-solving aptitudes and higher cognitive skills such as experimentation, reasoning and creativity.

Then there are the technical and vocational skills (employability skills), which refer to the physical and mental ability to perform specific tasks using tools and methods in any occupation.

Lastly, there are social and behavioural skills (entrepreneurial skills), which include working, communicating, and listening to others.

The government of India is making efforts to find a solution to this vexed issue through the launch of different skill oriented schemes in collaboration with the industry and non-governmental organisations.

Another issue is the women empowerment and their labour market participation.  Growing female literacy is not translating into relevant and marketable skills. A comprehensive approach is needed to improve their prospects vis-à-vis gainful employment. According to World Bank estimates, India has one of the lowest female labour force participation rates in the world. In 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, female labor force participation in India was 20.3%, according to World Bank estimates. The GoI is taking several steps in encouraging women employment including the enhancement in paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks, provision for mandatory crèche facilities in establishments having 50 or more employees, permitting women workers in the night shifts with adequate safety measures, etc.

Unemployment, in general, has a direct relationship with Social Conflict. It has been observed that youth bulge can trigger widespread social conflict, especially when fairly large numbers of young people are educated and unable to secure jobs. Jack Goldstone  (American sociologist, political scientist, and historian) in his paper “Population and Security: How Demographic Change Can Lead to Violent Conflict” (2002) has identified “an expanding population of higher-educated youth facing limited opportunities to obtain elite political and economic positions” as one of the key conditions for violent social conflict. In India youth unemployment rate was 17.75 which grew to 23.01 per cent in 2019.

The most significant issue affecting youth is drug misuse among the young population. Substance misuse suggests use that can cause harm to the user or their friends or family. It refers to “repeated use of drugs to produce pleasure, alleviate stress, and/or alter or avoid reality. It also includes using prescription drugs in ways other than prescribed or using someone else’s prescription” (NIDA). According to a survey by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, India has more than 70 million drug addicts. An AIIMS study in February 2019 found that around 5 crore Indians reported having used cannabis and opioids at the time of the survey. It has been estimated that there are about 8.5 lakh people who inject drugs. As per National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB) suicide data, in the year 2019, 7719 out of the total 7860 suicide victims due to drug misuse/alcohol addiction were male.

India is sandwiched between the two largest Opium producing regions of the world that is the Golden triangle (which comprises Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos) on one side and the Golden crescent (includes Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran) on the other. Therefore, there is a need for close mentoring of both the land and maritime boundary to check the influx of drugs. Law enforcement agencies need to implement the relevant laws in letter and spirit. Youth also need care, love and affection because if they do not get adequate attention and love in the family or from friends/intimate partner, s/he often feels neglected which might drive them towards drugs. A society ridden by drugs is characterised by breakdown of social structures, violence against women, economic disruptions, and poses challenges to the national security and sovereignty.

2^nd Session

In the second session five students were selected to speak on the theme “Role of Youth in Promoting Communal Harmony”. They were Ms. Tabiyan Gul, Semester 2^nd, Roll No.  517; Mr. Iqbal Mohi-Ud-Din, Semester 4^th, Roll No. 181; Ms. Bisma Akther, Semester 4^th, Roll No. 265; Ms. Insha Hamid, Semester 2^nd, Roll No. 470 and Ms. Sabreena Mohiudin, Semester 2^nd, Roll No. 501. The jury adjudged Ms. Sabreena Mohiudin as the best performing candidate who will be awarded with the ‘Certificate of Appreciation’ by the worthy Principal.

The programme was moderated by Dr. Shabir Ahmad, Assistant Professor of Kashmiri at GDC Khansahib.

Prof. Zafar Shadad Khan of Botany department presented the vote of thanks.

Rapporteur: Dr. Sajad Padder