Either Youth Crisis or Youth in Crisis

Dirgha Raj Joshi

It is difficult to define the term “youth.” “Some favor biological markers, in which youth is the period between puberty and parenthood, while others define youth in terms of cultural markers—a distinct social status with specific roles, rituals, and relationships”. Definitions of youth by age vary drastically across different institutions; the UN has defined youth as person from 15 to 24 years of age, whereas the National Youth Policy of Nepal defines youth as persons from 16 to 40 years of age. 

It is even more difficult to define female youth. In developing countries such as Nepal, where societies are influenced predominantly by patriarchal values, female generally have to accept more responsibilities at an early age. Motherhood tends to change the social status of female youth far more than fatherhood alters male youth lives. 87% of youth live in developing countries, 62% of youth live in Asia and 17% of youth live in AfricaThe term “youth crisis” is often used while describing the situation of young people in developing countries. 

However, despite being used so often the term is rarely explained and its meaning seems vague. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the term youth crisis can have two different meanings: 

(i) a societal crisis impacting on youth, resulting in a feeling of ‘uneasiness’ in the face of societal changes and constraints; or (ii) a crisis originating from youth and impacting on society at large (UNDP 2006). At the surface level, both of them look the same and often the meanings are used interchangeably. However, in order to engage youth in peace building and development activities it is necessary to look deeper at both meanings.

At the global level, the importance of migration to development is now reflected in the fact that it has become the part of agenda of multilateral institutions, as for example in the trade negotiations within the framework of General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS).

Nepali culture often understands youth to be those individuals who are not yet married and, more often than not, are irresponsible. There is confusion and a lack of knowledge about who youth are, why they are important, and how to address them.

Youth are not merely passive beneficiaries but effective agents of change who often lead by example and employ innovative solutions to complex problems-Creativity, dedication, enthusiasm, compassion, energy, technological savvy, resourceful, capable.

Youth and politics are almost synonymous in the country, specifically in government, college and campuses. However, most youth do not want to associate with mainstream politics as youth are and have been manipulated by political parties. The majority of youth are critical, skeptical and angry at the political process because of their increased levels of information about political activities happening in the country. 

There is miscommunication and confusion between general youth and political parties. In general, there is lot of mistrust of parties among the youth. Youth join political wings for different reasons. Some join because of the political ideology, some for power and fame while for others it is seen as an income source. 

“The political parties use these youth as they like. They are one group of youth who have aspiration and see politics as the future while the other groups are involved in such activities but they do not know why and for what they are involved. People are paid to come to processions but they don’t know the reason behind processions”. 

Student youth are reliant on political parties to meet their basic necessities. Youth are involved in politics because they provide with basic needs. "Youth are being mobilized by various political parties and criminal organization because we are not being able to engage them”. Youth wings of the political parties have the potential to play a positive role. However, youth forces remain targeted towards financial gains and youth wing activity continues to have negative impact on security.

The internal structures of political parties are more hierarchical and not democratic. Due to the lack of environment where youth voices can be implemented, youth do not have meaningful participation. 

“They are youth in the CA currently but they are limited to which political party they belong to and the vision of the party. They have to follow the party line and ideologies. We have not been able to see real and significant participation of the youth. They are allowed to participate when political parties need them, when they don’t need them they are discarded”. 

Youth have to strictly follow party lines and ideologies. Student and youth organizations are centralized and personality oriented. Senior youth leaders who are highly influential are incentivized to follow party guidelines in the hopes of eventually becoming leaders within the mainstream party.

They strictly follow what they are told and bring in line the rest of the youth in their groups.

 Youth are migrating from their villages and communities for employment and opportunities. Rural villages are being emptied due to youth leaving for cities and foreign countries. In urban areas, youth migration is creating many social problems such as increased crime, prostitution and drug abuse. Approximately 1400-1600 youth leave the country every day. 

This causes both labor drain and some brain drain. The majority of youth who go abroad are unskilled and uneducated and Gulf countries are one of the leading destinations for youth going abroad. Many of the youth have to face poor working and living conditions aboard and, due to this, 3-4 dead bodies are sent back every day.

 “In addition to this, work-related accidents and injury, headache, suicide attempts, cardiac arrests, mental illness and high death rates are further evidence of health risks among migrant workers. However, young people are willing to face hardships abroad rather than in Nepal. Foreign youth employment has been one of the current hot topics in Nepal. According to the Nepal Living Standard Survey (NLLS), despite receiving high remittance but the money is not being used in the productive sector. A significant portion (78.9 percent) of the remittance is being used in daily consumption, 32 followed by loan repayment. Only 2.4 percent of the total remittance is used for capital formation (Kathmandu Post, 9 Nov 2011). 

Youth coming back from abroad have brought various experiences and skills and one running successful enterprise in their community. I think despite them going aboard it is a very good learning opportunities. In the long run I think this will definitely help the country. It is not that people should not go aboard at all. They are sending money and remittance back to the country. 

The only thing right now is our industries are not booming”. Also, remittance has become a primary contribution to reducing poverty. The NLLS had sighted remittance as the major contributor behind the decline in people living below the poverty line from 42 percent to 31 percent (Kathmandu Post, 9 Nov 2011).

Need to provide opportunities to youth:  increase soft skills- leadership, communication, confidence, entrepreneurial skills, address problems in innovative and self-created ways.  Provide youth with civic leadership trainings that teach youth the rights and responsibilities of being a citizen in a democracy and how violence should not be a part of that. A part of this should help youth create their own visions of how they want to better Nepal. 

Dirgha Raj Joshi

B pharm

( National secretary at Pragyik vidyarthi parishad Nepal )