It is a common saying that the youth of a nation are the backbone of economy. We all have heard our national and state leaders advocating the fact that the prosperity and viability of India is much dependent on the young blood. Do they talk about the same youth who have knowledge, outlook, and educational degrees; however no jobs. Or, do they address the little ones who walk through the compartments of trains begging for pity cash, which is then used for buying drugs and alcohol? Step out of your house and the very next moment you would come across the young brigade harassed at every stage, with nil backing from the government.
While on one hand, girls are not allowed to enter the world; the born ones fight at every level to maintain dignity and arrange for food. You can often see little boys, with their parents involved in disguised employment, and you can be sure that a day would come when they too would become a part of the same milieu. A report predicts that every third youth of Punjab is trapped in the curse of drug addiction, while the governments and the leaders are busy projecting the newly built flyovers. The irony is that the political men too know the vitality of the young blood in nation-building; however no labors are being done to exploit this immense power.
The Right to Education was seen as a key measure that could at least ensure that the little ones would have adequate knowledgeand academic aptitude. Visit a tea stall near your office, or a local restaurant around your home, and you would realize thereal picture. The hands which should have a pen and a book are busy cleaning glasses or arranging for the helicopter landing of any powerful political leader. Yes, we are moved; however no one dares to take a step ahead. And when we talk about the limited resource capacity of India, why do we oversee the fact that the prime resource, which is our upcoming generation, is being wasted to the core.
To be precise, more than 8 million children in India have no other option than to waste their crucial childhood days atfirework factories, restaurants, and even as disguised home maids. As per the reports of distinct NGOs, Delhi is home to more than 50 thousand street children, who spend mornings tolate evenings as beggars. Same is the condition in Mumbai,where out of 37 thousand street children; more than one-fourthare not even able to arrange for food for the day. Miserable to note, reports reveal that around 10 percent street children are severely addicted to drugs and alcohol. Plus, active involvement in criminal activities is a common scenario.
None of the ministries has ever been concerned to even take a minute note of this drastically ill position. The Right to Education Act strives for every child of age 6 to 14 to havecompulsory access to school and the accountability lies with the state governments. Lack of coordination among distinctministries and deficient willpower of state governments have caused millions to writhe. It is to be realized that since most of the street children come from backward castes, they must be accorded with all the services destined explicitly for thiscategory. Rescuing of street children and ensuring education, food, and above all, dignity is the prime need of the hour.
The primary authority that could help India fetch the maximum out of the youth is the policy-makers. While the election manifestos are flooded with blossoming prospects for unemployed, the 5-years term of almost every government has proven hopeless. I expect a lot from the new union government, which is being headed by a personality who has been tested at numerous times and has proven his capability. Mr. Modi, who realizes that the Indians have voted for pride and prosperity in the 2014 polls, will have to come up with visionary plans and workable solutions that can save the little ones and can enrichthe ones looking for work.
A lot can be done. Compulsory and I recommend forceful measures must be taken to ensure that none of our little ones issaved from being a part of the education system. Along with, the standards of our teaching system will have to be reformed in view of prevailing global trends. Counseling of parents is necessary too. Jobs will have to be created by allowing quickinflow of funds and easy commencement of new ventures.Technological domain is to be strengthened by importing technical know-how to render our youth with essential expertise.Bare promises will now not be accepted and I believe that Mr. Modi would surely have a concrete plan of action.
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