Youth is the period which corresponds to the
transition from childhood to adulthood, marked by the onset of puberty and
sexual activity and the development of adult mental process. Clearly this is a
critical period for laying the foundation of an individual’s lifetime. In
recent years, globalization and shifting social norms have eroded the
traditional bases and defining points for youth behavior and values.
Rural youth account for around 55 percent of the world youth population. They are among the most disadvantaged of groups. Often they have limited access to educational programs that are geared to their situation and needs - not surprisingly, many rural people drop out of school at an early age. Class-work is often geared more toward academic accomplishments and to the urban areas than to learning skills useful to rural life, and preparing for adulthood. In many cases too, there is a genuine need for the young person's labor on the farm or in the home adding yet another reason why parents see little reason to keep their children in school. Rural young women have even greater difficulties than young men as they are often not given the same opportunities in education, training and involvement in rural development activities.
One of the consequences of the rising population and lack of opportunities rural areas is urban drift - young people consciously decide to move to the towns in the hope of greater opportunities for employment and better education for their children. The education, the media exposure is so often urban oriented that it adds to their belief that their prospects will be better in the towns. The push of poverty in rural areas is at least as great as the pull of the bright lights. As a consequence the towns become increasingly overcrowded putting pressure on limited services.
For some, opportunities are indeed found in the urban areas, and this increases the lure of the towns for the many others who then find themselves worse off than they would have been in the rural areas. The challenge is to develop the rural areas to make them attractive to young people in terms of employment prospects, education and training opportunities, health services and social life.
Education
is powerful instrument of youth development. According to 2001 census report,
there was only 61.03% population literate, while half of women population is
illiterate in Rajasthan state in India. In a study (Annual Status of Education
Report 2009- Rural) facilitated by an NGO “Partham” reveals the state of rural
education in Rajasthan. In 18 out of 13 district of the state, the out of
school children are from 10.5% to 25.6%, while 37.7% girls in the age group of
15-16, never enrolled in the school and 22.6% of boys in the same age group
never enrolled in the school in the state. This age group is potential rural
youth in the Rural Rajasthan. Education and schooling provide direct and
indirect motives for the rural youth migration.
The identity of the youth is recognized on the basis of transition, which underlines the specific characteristics that make them a distinct demographic and social category. Youth is always treated as future citizen of the country, highly risk taking and vulnerable in nature while, the youth is also one of the marginalized communities in India. The rural areas in many states in India, youth are unable to engage in the agriculture and the unavailability of livelihood options in the villages force the rural youth to migrate towards city and town. The migration towards city is not solving their problem and they directly face many problems in the city and the city is also get overcrowding. The unavailability of job in the city also encourages them indulge in criminal and anti social activities. The recent attacks on migrant labors in Maharashtra state also accumulate the problem of migrant rural youths. However, a significant number of the rural youth population migrates to the cities with the state and neighboring state for the seasonal employment.
Migration is not a very new trend in rural areas of many states in India, as consistent droughts forced people even around 30-40 years back to migrate. However, the volume of migration seems to be increasing over the years. Lack of livelihood security within the village and increasing options outside the village have been some major reasons for the increase in migration among the rural youth in India. Apart from the migration, the rural youth unable to connect themselves with the villages and unable to involve themselves in the decision making process at village level. The rural youth are facing multi dimensional problems on the one hand, the scope of livelihood in the villages is almost negative, and the government also not able to address their issues both at policy and institutions level.
Rural youth account for around 55 percent of the world youth population. They are among the most disadvantaged of groups. Often they have limited access to educational programs that are geared to their situation and needs - not surprisingly, many rural people drop out of school at an early age. Class-work is often geared more toward academic accomplishments and to the urban areas than to learning skills useful to rural life, and preparing for adulthood. In many cases too, there is a genuine need for the young person's labor on the farm or in the home adding yet another reason why parents see little reason to keep their children in school. Rural young women have even greater difficulties than young men as they are often not given the same opportunities in education, training and involvement in rural development activities.
The prevailing situation in the context of youth
development in rural areas presents a complex challenge. Rural youth, in the
age group of 14-20 years, face a dilemma in dealing with contemporary society.
While relevant knowledge and the ability to articulate views on various issues,
is considered an essential trait for the pursuit of a healthy and productive
life, a large part of the young rural population is unable to read and
comprehend a written text. This gap is not limited to learning texts and books.
Many young populations do not know basic facts that could save their lives.
This gap needs to be filled with skill building efforts.
At the same time, youth are in the period of their
lives when they begin to be heard and recognized outside their families, and
they establish their identities as unique individuals. This intensifies various
facets of the complex situations, which rural youth face in their daily lives.
Another feature of the rural youth is their engagement with economic
activities, both within and outside their natural habitat. A large number of
youth, both males and females, migrate out for work and livelihood, away from
their homes and villages, for a large part of year. Their life in work places
is not always easy. Often they face economic and sexual exploitation.
Therefore, there is a need to equip them with confidence, awareness and
capabilities so that they can resist exploitation when they migrate.
As the rural youth grows up, they often become
alienated from their communities. Sometimes they even become distanced from
their family. There is a need to prevent this alienation and create means and
opportunities for the youth to engage with their communities and families.
As future adults, rural youth need to be prepared
in
·
Improving their capabilities to produce food and to conserve productive
resources in the rural environment,
·
Improving their skills and abilities in carrying out income generating
activities in rural areas
·
Relieving population pressure and improving nutrition and the well being
of farming families and
·
Developing leadership and the ability to work well with others in group
and community situations.
Their knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behavior
are of vital importance in the implementation of sustainable agricultural and
rural development programs. One of the consequences of the rising population and lack of opportunities rural areas is urban drift - young people consciously decide to move to the towns in the hope of greater opportunities for employment and better education for their children. The education, the media exposure is so often urban oriented that it adds to their belief that their prospects will be better in the towns. The push of poverty in rural areas is at least as great as the pull of the bright lights. As a consequence the towns become increasingly overcrowded putting pressure on limited services.
For some, opportunities are indeed found in the urban areas, and this increases the lure of the towns for the many others who then find themselves worse off than they would have been in the rural areas. The challenge is to develop the rural areas to make them attractive to young people in terms of employment prospects, education and training opportunities, health services and social life.
The vulnerable nature of
poverty is major challenge in the rural Rajasthan. Even small household events
(Krishna, 2003) put the family down in the poverty. The illness of any family
members in the rural household increase the financial burden and over the
family and this also may be important factor to put the family in deep
indebtedness. Many policy interventions and rural development programs largely focus
on welfare measures rather than skill enhancement of rural people. Even the
government policies related to the rural development concentrate on developing
physical structures, such as road, community halls, and water harvesting
system, small dams and others.
The rural youth issue
and problem become complex when the caste and tribal identity of the rural
youth make them to face discrimination and deprivation because of their
ascribed identify. Prof Robert Chamber righty says that “the poverty line is
not concerned with wealth or material possessions, nor with aspects of
deprivation relating to access to water, shelter, health services, education or
transport, nor with debt, dependence, isolation, migration, vulnerability,
powerlessness, physical weakness or disability, high mortality or short life
expectancy; nor with social disadvantage, status or self-respect, but the
members of elite groups find these less threatening aspects of deprivation to
measure and tackle”.
The identity of the youth is recognized on the basis of transition, which underlines the specific characteristics that make them a distinct demographic and social category. Youth is always treated as future citizen of the country, highly risk taking and vulnerable in nature while, the youth is also one of the marginalized communities in India. The rural areas in many states in India, youth are unable to engage in the agriculture and the unavailability of livelihood options in the villages force the rural youth to migrate towards city and town. The migration towards city is not solving their problem and they directly face many problems in the city and the city is also get overcrowding. The unavailability of job in the city also encourages them indulge in criminal and anti social activities. The recent attacks on migrant labors in Maharashtra state also accumulate the problem of migrant rural youths. However, a significant number of the rural youth population migrates to the cities with the state and neighboring state for the seasonal employment.
Migration is not a very new trend in rural areas of many states in India, as consistent droughts forced people even around 30-40 years back to migrate. However, the volume of migration seems to be increasing over the years. Lack of livelihood security within the village and increasing options outside the village have been some major reasons for the increase in migration among the rural youth in India. Apart from the migration, the rural youth unable to connect themselves with the villages and unable to involve themselves in the decision making process at village level. The rural youth are facing multi dimensional problems on the one hand, the scope of livelihood in the villages is almost negative, and the government also not able to address their issues both at policy and institutions level.
