Content, Structure, Function; its Influence and Relation with Thought and Behaviour; Moral and Political Attitudes
In News:Ram Madhav writes: Indian politics has failed to attract young leaders
With the emergence of Industry 3.0, youth power has gained prominence.However, politics is one field where young people worldwide find it difficult to advance.Do you agree with this view? Provide strategies to encourage them to come forward.
With technology and innovation becoming the key to progress, young leadership is making its impact in every field of public life, be it industry, R&D, trade and commerce and even sunrise sectors like social media. They are part of the digital revolution, NGOs and social movements.
For example, Larry Page was just 25 when he founded Google. Mark Zuckerberg was not even 20 when he founded Facebook. India, too, has several such examples of young people like Falguni Nayar, Bhavish Aggarwal making it big in industry, trade and commerce .
Yet, according to the data provided by the UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth, less than 2 percent of the elected legislators are young.Despite the massive youth bulge in the country, the average age of the just-elected members of the 18th Lok Sabha is 56 years.This highlights that youngsters struggle to make headway in politics.
Challenges for Young People in Politics:
- Financial barriers: Campaign costs can be high. It prevents the entry of good people into politics.
- Nepotism: Dynastic politics can create barriers for young people without family connections in the political establishment.
- Establishment bias: Incumbent advantage and party resistance.
- Age discrimination: Young people may face stereotypes and prejudices about their maturity, experience, and ability to handle the responsibilities of office.
- The social stigma associated with politics, characterised by perceptions of corruption and evil, can discourage individuals from entering the political arena.
- Voter engagement: Low voter turnout and lack of interest make young people be disengaged from politics or feel that their voices are not heard.
Strategies to Encourage Young People in Politics
- Promote Civic Education: Increase awareness of political systems and encourage critical thinking on political issues from a young age.
- Youth-focused Political Programs: Create mentorship programs connecting young people with experienced politicians or political organisations.
- Financial Support: Explore public funding for youth campaigns or initiatives that help young candidates overcome financial hurdles.
- Modern Campaign Strategies: Encourage use of social media and digital tools for campaigning, which might be more familiar and cost-effective for young people.
- Quotas/Reserved Seats: Can explore reserving seats for young people in legislative bodies, fostering their entry-level participation.
- Youth parliaments should be held regularly to foster interest in politics and leadership. Awareness campaigns are crucial to inform people, especially at the grassroots level, about these platforms.
- University elections in India reflect national politics. Reforms like non-party involvement and strict regulations on money and muscle power are needed to encourage good students to participate
Overall, empowering young people in politics requires a multi-pronged approach. By creating opportunities and encouraging participation, we can tap into the dynamism and fresh ideas young people bring to the table.
| PYQ:Young people with ethical conduct are not willing to come forward to join active politics. Suggest steps to motivate them to come forward.2017 |