YOUTH….give us a chance!

The pride of nation is our youth….. does that ring a bell? Does this sound familiar? Yes, this is one common line we all hear on all the Republic, Independence day speeches. It is meant to be spoken out. 

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But how true is this?... are these kind of statement made to please the masses only or  should it considered?... some questions go unanswered but don’t we have answer  to  this question. Don’t we know what  is good and bad for us. Is it that we have stopped thinking or is it that the nerve being logical have left our brains?? Could be that the old still consider that the youth are still immature and are not capable of making the correct decisions?

Aha! Sorry, uncles and aunties.. the youth are no longer immature, infact they contribute in development and strengthening of the nation. Youth are described in three words ENERGY, ENTHUSIASM AND VISION! They are the one who have the quality thinking and are very enthusiastic to possess the skill of doing  new and innovative.

Lets work out in real first.. WHO ARE YOU?? WHAT ARE YOU?? A doctor, painter, musician? WHO ARE YOU? What ever you may be.. you contribute to the nation’s future. What ever the role the youth plays he is a part that completes the country.. 

Every country has their share of deficiencies and flaws as it is rightly said that every rose has its thorns. To much is happening and it is still continuing to be left unsolved.

Taking a few examples like in Goa, it has been a holiday destination spot may be for relaxation or for fun, an entertainment. But the tourism industry not only brought revenue, but rave parties, drug  addiction, inflation. Anti- social activities are on the rise. Goa has become diseased with bribes, rapes and rowdy politics, unemployment and underdevelopment.

In Bangalore, initially it was known as Pensioner’s Paradise or Garden City, but due to the increase pollution and growing population, these words have faded away. It is no more known as Garden City. The increase number of rape cases, murders are just fluctuating. What is being done for this? Is any action is being taken for this? Whom are we supposed to blame?

Procrastination is the watchword at all levels of development. Corruption has become carcinogenic to our society eating away at the entails of the innocent taxpayer. We have opened our doors too wide and allowed our house to be taken over by  outsider, leaving the sons of the soil  struggling to make a decent living. Those who had fled to greener pastures yearn to come back to the respective places. Newspaper reports of escalating prices, rising crime rates, self- centered politics, shoddy employment facilities and a rapid westernization of society has made our state gradually lost its colonial charm. It is no wonder our migrant return back to a foreign land nostalgically. The vicious circle continues with following generations losing our identity in foreign land and fresh youth blood being washed away to foreign shores………..

The question is: what can we do to make the world a better place? I, being mere teenager? An adolescent struggling to take on the characteristics of an adult. What then can I do for my world? A considerable amount! I can use my creative skills to enlighten my fellow people. The power of the pen is greater then the sword. I can use the medium of the newspaper to highlight the problems the world is  facing today and invite opinions and solutions from the public. Awareness of these problems can also be generated among the youth in schools and colleges across the state by organizing essay competition and poster competitions focusing on hot issues like garbage dumping, tourism and the environment , unemployment among people that leads them to take a drastic step like committing suicide, murders etc . The ideas put forth by the youth on various issues can then be published in the leading dailies. Surely, it will  catch the eye of a truly patriotic politician who may work to implement the ideas of the next generation .

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I have always been wondering: most of the candidate who are elected, the focus is on their elective merits rather than their potential to handle people’s aspiration, hopes and dreams. A candidate should be elected in terms of his capabilities to reflect people’s aspiration, should help in problem solving in communities, promote public discussion.

In our own personal life, we should try and bring a change in this beautiful world. For instance we know garbage is an every day issue but cant we do anything about it, are we so helpless that we cant come together and try out doing something. Yes, its true that we remain aloof and uninvolved in certain issues thinking that our participation is immaterial. But it is not true, we the youngsters should take an initiative to come in front and bring a change. Whom should we expect to push us or give us permission? What are we waiting for? We can do a lot of things when we are united, in the case of garbage issue, we can set an example in our home environment on sensible garbage disposal, greening our surroundings aesthetically, conserving precious resources like water and electricity, recycling and preventing noise and other pollution within our living premises. This will serve as an example to be followed by neighbours and friends. Making a little vegetable patch at home and cultivating fruit trees if one has the land can make us self- sufficient to some extent. It is scarcity that leads to rising prices. If we can somehow use the resources available in our respective villages- resources like fish from the rivers, rice form our fields, vegetables from our gardens, meat from our home poultry and piggery, organic manure from our own compost pits. We can, in our small way help to bring down the escalating prices of our basic food items.

The greatest cause of frustration among youth is the lack of lucrative employment opportunities. The brain drain has been a direct result of this fact… the cream of the society leaves to serve other countries. We should develop a selfless attitude where our love for state should come first and then the desire for rich remunerations and personal gains.

Last but not the least, the old should give a chance to the young, support them and be a major encouragement in shaping the future. As time is changing with this pace packed world, it is important to accept your incapabilities and  ask for help. Not sit and speak extra. And also understand that your time is done, so give a chance for the youngster to make this place better for the next GENERATION!! It is never too early to make a good start! 

 

Steffy Gratia Fernandes

International Academy of Management and Entrepreneurship Bangalore.