The Urban youth
The Indian metropolis and cities today witness increased employment for their burgeoning population, rising income commensurate somewhat with the cost of living and unprecedented phase of growth of industrialisation and consumerism.
These have given rise to a new generation of wealth creators, impacting the attitude and behaviour of urban youth.
An upsurge in growth and wealth has its own drawbacks and problems. The booming construction, manufacturing, retail and IT sectors, to name a few, have given rise to a new breed of neo-rich. This has created its own attendant problems for the youth, with their addiction to gambling, alcohol and drugs. In addition, every city has its underbelly, attracting young men and women into its fold. The involvement of some politicians, using university students for their nefarious activities compounds the problem.
On the positive side, well-educated young men and women today occupy positions of authority in international and national companies, earning salaries and perks that would rival their Western counterparts. With housing loans, hire purchase and other financial schemes available, the standard of living of the average urban youth has reached unprecedented heights.
The Problems
The fact that India is a country of contrasts with poverty and plenty co-existing, often next to each other, is evidenced in its major cities and towns. Among these are skills shortages, graduate unemployment and underemployment, creating social friction and challenging Governments, policymakers and employers.
Although such problems are not new to India, the sheer number of students involved and the country’s high growth path create fresh concerns.
The country’s current low wages, growth rate, and size can create many jobs across the skills spectrum, but merely putting more people into universities and colleges can exacerbate the situation unless the demographic expansion is directed to meet the country’s skill needs in an integrated manner.
Rather than working in silos, efforts cutting across government departments and public-private or higher-vocational divides must cater to this growing demand for skills. There is also need for increased flexibility and pathways for vertical mobility in degree structure. Existing institutions need to be rebranded to overcome their poor image.
Vocational Training
Commercial establishments, IT firms, multinationals, financial institutions and major companies in the public and private sectors have rightly emphasised ongoing training and upskilling programmes for their staff. Employees are accorded opportunities to attend workshops, seminars and conferences conducted in India and overseas, contributing to their improved performance.
India’s young men and women today have greater exposure to vocational training than their predecessors did.
But some people have criticised India’s truncated and often ad hoc approach to training from the overall, national perspective of human resources development.
Mr Agarwal called it a ‘two-box disease,’ with the existing segregation between vocational training and higher education.
“With no pathways between the two sectors, both suffer. The country’s small vocational sector caters to less than 5% of students and suffers from poor demand due to low prestige and quality, while higher education does not equip graduates with the skills and competencies required by the labour market. Due to such discrepancies, universities and colleges churn out a growing number of unemployable, general studies graduates,” he said.
Fresh initiatives
It is time to do more to realise the full potential of the youth in India and lift their participation and achievement levels in education and training. In a country that tales pride of high economic growth, there would be ample opportunities for employment but our young men and women should be appropriately educated and trained to improve national productivity and their own career prospects.
A low skills base will impede growth in the value of the economy and prevent the rise of living standards to their full potential.
The Union and State Governments must address the problem of school dropouts and provide incentives for the youth to complete their education.
Career Counselling, apprentice programmes and opportunities to discuss their future with teachers, consultants and employers would help to improve their aptitude and attitude, encourage them to complete their education and seek gainful employment.
The Indian Government has undertaken an aggressive expansion programme of economic, industrial and infrastructure, with the States competing to get their share of foreign investment and participation in economic growth.
India needs thinkers, creative men and women who can innovate and set high standards for the youth of the country.
Education, the key
It should also put strategies and programmes in place to make the country’s young people feel that they can contribute to economic and social progress.
Education is a key driver in this process.
Boosting teenage participation in formal education in the modern world is much more complex than simply lifting the school leaving age. Yet education providers and experts in India can design and resource schools so that they are able to retain a higher proportion of students.
It is gratifying that there are some initiatives already in place in some schools, which aim to engage young people’s interest in education and skills training longer.
But the schools and the formal education system cannot be expected to achieve the higher levels of participation on their own. Partnerships are needed with employers, tertiary educators, and private training providers and communities, to ensure that a range of options to meet student needs is available.
India could perhaps emulate some of the models successfully employed in schools in Australia, New Zealand and UK, which provide special programmes in conjunction with employers. These ‘Gateway Programmes’ provide senior school students with opportunities to learn in the workplaces as well as the schoolroom.
They give students a better understanding of the connections between the skills required in a workplace and the education they get in school.
In effect, these Apprenticeships offer young people involved the prospect of paid employment in work placements during school breaks and the ability to earn credits towards their apprenticeship while still at school.
A bright future
With robust policies and programmes, closer partnership between the Government and the private sector and a conscientious application of good principles and programmes, India can expect to order a brighter future for its young men and women.
As Swami Vivekananda said, “The young have muscles of iron, nerves of steel and minds of thunderbolt.”
Together, they can take the country to greater heights of fame and competence.
About the Author
Wenceslaus Anthony is a respected member of the New Zealand society. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church and considers himself as a ‘Servant of Servants,’ in the true Christian spirit. He is the Chairperson of the Divine Retreat Centre Movement in New Zealand and Advisor to the Vailankanni Committee to celebrate the feast of the Birthday of Mother Mary on September 8) and Director of Conquest Club, which aims to shape the character and personality of young boys in the 8- 14 age group.
Mr Anthony has worked very closely with the late Mother Teresa and has had a personal audience with His Holiness the late Pope John Paul II. He is the Chairman of the Mother Teresa Committee established in Auckland in 2010.
Mr Anthony is the Managing Director of WAML Group Limited and Director Business Solutions Limited (New Zealand) and PACT Industries Pty Ltd (Australia). He is the Chair of the India New Zealand Business Council and Chairperson, Business Advisory Group of the International College of Auckland.
