Youth Development
Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi staying at A 15, Paryavaran Complex,
New Delhi 110030 (INDIA), Mobile : +91-9818097247 has designed a Masterplan Paradigm for the overall development of Youth in the
following manner :
Young People
1.1 Principles
The key issues for India’s young people are :
a) access to secure, affordable and appropriate long term
housing;
b) meaningful work and a competency based wage system;
c) access to education and training;
d) a clean and healthy environment;
e) access to diverse cultural and recreational facilities;
f) access to reliable and affordable transport;
g) access to a living environment which is free from the threat
of physical or emotional abuse or discrimination of any kind;
and
h) access to health services which focus on the social, economic
and environmental factors that impact on the lives of young
people.
Information about services available to young people must be
accessible and comprehensible.
We oppose all forms of ageism, and support initiatives to
counter this, including public education and affirmative action.
Youth interests must be included in public policy
decision-making, and this requires greater input from young
people themselves.
Recognizing that young people have a positive contribution to
make to society, we support representation from young people at
all levels of government. Young people must not only play a
central role in formulating those policies which affect them,
but they should be included more widely in general policy
formulation.
1.2 Goals
We will :
a) facilitate processes which allow young people to express
their needs and aspirations at all levels of government, as well
as in their own communities;
b) listen to young people through regionally based Youth
Advisory Committees comprising representative groups of young
people with a range of interests and skills, who will meet to
discuss ideas, initiatives and solutions to problems, as well as
provide feedback and advice on government programmes. These
Advisory Committees will have input at both state and national
levels, to assist with greater coordination of national, state
and local initiatives;
c) support the right of people from the age of 16 years to vote
and to hold public office, in recognition of the increasing
awareness of and responsibility towards current issues of young
people.
1.3 Short Term Targets
1.3.1 Unemployment
We will work towards the implementation of a national employment
strategy for young people, to be administered at a local level
with a focus on facilitating community development.
Local employment committees will be established. They will
provide training, financial support and the development of job
opportunities which address needs within local communities and
promote green jobs.
We also support greater representation of young people on
regional economic organisations and greater recognition of
community-based organisations which generate environmentally and
socially useful employment opportunities.
All labour market and training programmes must be developed in
consultation with young people and should not be discriminatory
on any grounds, including age.
1.3.2 Education
Our education system must be able to provide the intellectual
and social skills necessary for confronting the social and
environmental problems now facing India. The skills and
knowledge of indigenous as well as non-indigenous ancestry and
culture must be shared with our young people to give them an
understanding of the basic solutions to our cultural crisis.
We are committed to:
a) diverse and inclusive curricula at the school level;
b) supportive school environments that cater to social and
academic development and raising self-esteem;
c) support for early intervention programme;
d) more flexible pathways to employment and training;
e) increased emphasis on training in life skills;
f) ensuring training programme are relevant and accessible, and
that they are connected to ongoing employment opportunities; and
g) civics education to enable greater understanding of and
participation in all spheres of government.
1.3.3 Youth Justice
The recognition of young people’s issues and needs is inadequate
in India’s legal system. Young people often feel regulated by
the law but without adequate access to and support from the
legal system or their legal rights. Young people should be
protected from violence, discrimination and exploitation.
We support:
a) establishing a Children’s Bureau including a Commission for
Children and a Children’s Ombudsperson; and
b) the development of a Children and Youth Justice Strategy
which would include community legal education and an advocacy
programme for young people.
1.3.4 Health
There are many serious health issues facing young people in
India. Good health is closely connected to lifestyle. While
young people should be encouraged to take responsibility for
their own health, we recognise that physical and emotional
wellbeing is often compromised by inadequate access to
appropriate housing, income support, meaningful work, creative
or recreational opportunities as well as by degradation of the
environment.
An integrated and holistic approach to health policy is
necessary.
Recognising the urgency of the problem, we support the
development of strategies to deal with youth suicide and mental
health problems among young people.
We also support increased HIV/AIDS education and more preventive
programmes targeted to young people with eating disorders.
1.3.5 Housing
The number of homeless youth in India is increasing and
projections suggest this situation will worsen in the future.
Adequate housing and especially secure long term housing are
fundamental to young people working towards their chosen
lifestyle.
We support facilitation of community housing and housing
cooperatives in urban areas as a means to servicing the young
homeless.
We support co-housing and other forms of multiple occupancy.
Young people should be involved in the planning and development
of housing appropriate to their needs.
1.3.6 The Environment
Young people have a clear interest and concern in the wellbeing
of the planet. Respect for the environment is essential to the
security and wellbeing of future generations.
We support community-based employment, housing and cultural
activities which increase the quality of life and empower young
people without consuming vast amounts of resources and
generating excessive waste.
We encourage government support and facilitation of innovative
environmental projects including urban community farms and
gardens, alternative housing construction and design, energy
conservation and alternative energy generation, recycling and
secondary resource management.
