Policies for the Youth

by SHITU RAJBHANDARI

FROM ISSUE # 159 (March 2009) | IN THIS ISSUE
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Youth are the future of the nation. This statement has been used and abused, especially by the politicians whenever they are amidst a young crowd. Yet, why is there a sense of resentment among the young for being ignored by the state? A few months back, we got to know that a Youth Policy was being drafted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the betterment of young Nepalis. How many of us knew about this? What does the Youth Policy state? When will it start to be effective and how will it affect us? These are some of the questions we have tried to seek answers for this month. Read on to know more.

IMAGES: ANUP PRAKASH Gayetra,Rebatiram & Archana

ANUP PRAKASH Sunita, Rupa & Arpita

Participants:

Arpita Subba, 20
Association of Youth Organisations Nepal (AYON),
Overall Program Assistant

Sunita Maharjan, 24
United Youth General Youth Council, Secretary

Rupa Upreti, 26
Youth Action Nepal, Secretary,

Archana Pangeni, 21
Northern Club, Treasurer

Gayetra Ghale, 21
Relate Nepal, Member

Rebatiram Poudyal, 23
Youth Initiative, Executive Member

How did you get started in youth activities?
Rupa: I was interested in youth related issues since I was in school and have been involved in the social work movement. After coming to Kathmandu from my home town in Nijgad, I met a few friends who had the same kind of vision as me and that's when we started Youth Action Nepal.

Gayetra: I am from Udayapur and have been involved in youth empowerment programs on the district level from the very beginning.

Archana: The interest has always been there. Therefore I participated in AYON 's National Youth Conference sometime back and was introduced to Northern Club and wanted to be a part of it.

Arpita:  I have an interesting story about how I started. I was walking down the street when I found a business card on the street. I picked it up and upon reading it found it interesting, so I called the number but couldn't get through. So I sent an email on the address given on the card which happened to be Gayatri Bhattarai's, who is involved with Youth Initiative. That how I was got started.

Sunita:  I was studying in Staff College and AYON had organised a Youth Inspiration Training in our college. I had participated in the training, enjoyed what they taught us and got more curious and interested in issues relating to youth empowerment.

Rebatiram:  Youth Initiative used to have this public speaking program for the youth called Smart Club and I was a member of it for about three and a half years. I enjoyed the environment there and the moral boost given to people like us. After that, I was constantly in contact with Youth Initiative and just a few months ago became its executive member.

How do you think the Youth Policy will effect the youth of Nepal?
Sunita: It all depends on how it will be implemented. The largest defect of it comes in the form of the drafting committee.

Rebatiram: It's like saying na bhako mama bhanda kano mama jati. For the policy to be effective there has to be political stability in the country.

Rupa: For it to be effective, it needs to address to all kinds of youth in the country from the educated elite group to the underprivileged village youth.

What does the ministry need to focus on for it to be implemented properly?
Archana: The draft needs to focus on the overall change in attitude towards youth empowerment.

Sunita: Expecting the policy to address all the issues of the youth from all over the country is being too ambitious. The best way of implementation would be to prioritise the issues.

Gayetra:  The policy needs to address the voices of all the young people. Otherwise it's going to be one group stepping in front of the other to make their voice and needs heard.

What do you think is the biggest problem of the youth today?
Arpita: They want instant results. They are impatient and aren't laborious.
Sunita: The lack of vision.

Rebatiram: The youth of today are very misguided.

Gayetra: I would say it is the inaccessibility of resources.

Rupa: Like everyone else in this country, its excess demands for rights and little sense of responsibility towards everything.

Archana: They are only concerned about the results with no interest on how to get to the destination. Their plans are always short term.

Do you think the policy that is being drafted addresses all the issues that you just listed?
Rebatiram & Sunita: It tries to, even though it lists unemployment, security and education as the main problems. These issues when dealt with properly will solve half the problems.

Arpita: I don't think it does because the drafting committee the ministry chose has 24 people out of which 20 are from political parties and four from civil society. So how can we expect the problems of different kinds of youth to be covered?

Rupa: That just shows a lack of partnership between public and private sectors.

Do you think the youth of today really care about the whole policy?
Archana: Well, a few people who are conscious care and know about it, others don't.

Gayetra: A lot of the youth in the capital might know about it and care but the rest of the country has no clue therefore don't care.

Rebatiram: They don't know what it is or what the objectives of the policy are. If they were told about it and made to feel like a part of today rather than a part of an unseen tomorrow they would care. The ministry and the policy should focus on making the young people feel important and give them a sense of ownership. Then they will start caring.