VOICE OF INDIAN YOUTH (An analysis of the online survey)

During the last week of May 2021, Vigyan Setu Foundation conducted an online survey to

listen to the Voice of Indian Youth. The ongoing pandemic crisis and the resultant effect on

the youth were to be heard, analysed, and understood. Through the questionnaire, four key

areas were explored; education and employment, social and health security, mental well-

being, and governmental initiatives. Based on the questions asked during online survey and

the overwhelming pan-India participation, here is an analysis of the responses received.

Demographics:

Questions asked included about gender, age-group, and the place of residence of the

respondents

The sample age bracket of 15-35 years was selected because this age group is likely to face

differentiated challenges in the context of the lockdown imposed to contain ongoing

pandemic. The education and employment implications of the COVID-19 crisis and the

individual responses to it are of interest for this study. This age group, especially those at

the higher end, are facing a second major economic crisis, since they are at the beginning of

their careers. Figure 1 illustrates the respondents by age group.

The survey was administered online and promoted and shared primarily through social

media platforms among the youth from the age group of 15 - 35 years. The gender

distribution of respondents is as shown in the Figure 2.

54.9%31.5%

4.3%9.3%

Fig.1 Respondents by age group

15-20 years

21-25 years

26-30 years

31-35 years

Figure 3 displays the respondent by their place of residence. Roughly half of the

respondents are from the urban settings, followed by smaller towns, rural, and a small

portion from the metropolitan area.

45.7%

53.7%

0.6%

Fig. 2 Respondents by gender

Male

Female

Prefer not to say

22.8%

19.8%48.8%

8.6%

Fig. 3 Respondents by residence

Village

Town

City

Metroplois

Education and employment: Questions explored their engagement, support and provisions made by the

institutions for the students and those employed, and the impact on employment

A major portion of the survey respondents are students followed by those employed, and a

small portion is student-cum-employed. The distribution of respondents with respect to

their engagement is as shown in Figure 4.

Of all the employed respondents, Figure 5 shows the type of employability based on the

time period (part-time or full-time) of their engagement. Those working part-time,

majority of them are working from home, while most of those engaged in full-time

employment are to go to their workplace.

80.2%

6.2%

13.6%

Fig. 4 Respondents by engagement

Student

Student and employed

Employed (including self-employed)

27.8%

8.3%

25%

38.9%

Fig. 5 Respondents by type of employability

Part-time (work fromhome)

Part-time (go toworkplace)

Full-time (work fromhome)

Full-time (go toworkplace)

Lockdowns everywhere have changed how education and learning need to be approached.

In this context, teachers and students are facing a number of challenges including student

health and well-being, the continuity of learning and teaching, equality, accessibility and

connectivity, student engagement, and the lack of preparedness and capacity of teachers.

Under such situation, the response to whether educational institutions provide facilities for

education to continue is depicted in Figure 6.

Apart from providing facilities for education to continue, it is also of significance, whether

these educational institutions are extending support, and if yes, then to what extent? Figure

7 shows how far educational institutions had been supportive to the student respondents

during the lockdown and beyond.

93.1%

6.9%

Fig. 6 Provision for education to continue

Yes

No

44.22%

47.62%

8.16%

Fig. 7 Support extended by instituitions

Very supportive

Supportive

Unsupportive

Similarly, the challenges faced by employers and employees alike are unprecedented, but

some employers have been better at meeting the needs of their employees during this

uncertain time. Majority of the employed respondents feel that they are getting adequate

support from their employer during the lockdown. This is being shown in Figure 8.

The lockdown in India closed businesses, offices, transportation, and confined people to

their homes. Only essential workers and industries were permitted to continue operations

under the lockdown. Across the world, the disruptions caused by confinement measures

have led to substantial impacts on both employed and self-employed sector. The impact of

the lockdown situation owing to the pandemic is represented in the Figure 9.

81.25%

18.75%

Fig. 8 Support extended by the employer

Yes

No

20.51%

7.69%

5.13%48.72%

17.95%

Fig. 9 Impact on the employment

Lost my job / self-business

Compelled to take unpaidleave

Compelled to take paidleave

My job / self-employmentcontinues as it has been

My job / self-employmentcontinues with reducedsalary / income

Social and health security:

Questions explored the availability of health insurance and accessibility to medical

facilities

Health insurance is of great significance in such critical times, when loss of employment

causing economic losses add health care burden on an individual. In light of the fact, that

during widespread job loss in India, many people are at risk of losing their health coverage,

the status of health insurance of the respondents is as shown in the Figure 10. Still, the

health of roughly one-third of the respondents is not insured.

Global supply chains have been disrupted as firms, travel, trade and borders have closed

around the world, and countries have real concerns about shortages in necessities such as

medicines, food staples, and PPE. The respondents’ reaction to their accessibility to medical

care facilities during the lockdown is best depicted in the Figure 11.

14.90%

51.06%

34.04%

Fig. 10 Employment and Insurance

By the employer

Self

No insurance done eitherby employer or self

46.9%

32.7%

20.4%

Fig.11 Accessibility of medical facilities

Yes, fully accessible

Yes, but quite limited

Not accessible

Mental well-being:

Questions explored the impact on mental health and well-being, avenues of keeping

oneself busy during lockdown, feeling loneliness, and the biggest worries and

challenges thought of

Indeed, it is very pertinent that during any emergency situation or crisis, where and with

whom an individual is staying. Looking at the present scenario, respondents felt safer,

physically secured, since majority of them were with their family members. Distribution of

their lodgings is as shown in the Figure 12.

Though the respondents felt physically safe and secure being at home but whether there is

an impact on their mental well-being, is seen in the Figure 13.

4.9%

91.4%

0%3.7%

Fig. 12 Lodging during the lockdown

Alone

With family members

With room-mates inhostelWith extended family

45.7%

26.5%

27.8%

Fig. 13 Impact on mental well-being

Yes

No

Maybe, not sure

The survey asked respondents what activities they have been doing during the lockdown.

Figure 14, best describes their engagements during the period of lockdown.

Young people are at a higher risk of suffering from the psychological and emotional stress

of the outbreak. Being separated from friends, colleagues and normal everyday activities

has left many young people feeling lonely. Figure 15 shows the different levels of loneliness

felt by the respondents.

Due to ongoing pandemic crisis, physical, mental, economic, and even on social front, the

youth experienced tremendous disturbance. More and more worries begin to surface as

challenges in front of them, with every day passing by.

56.20%

30.90%

5.60%

58.60%

55.60%

60.50%

14.80%

34.60%

1.20%

21.60%

Acquiring new skills / hobbies

Chatting with old time buddies

Doing online business

Taking online courses / studying…

Passive activities (listening mus…

Talking to family and friends

Exploring more opportunities to…

Taking care of health by exercisi…

Partying quite often

Others

Fig. 14 Keeping busy during lockdown

12.3%

9.9%

51.9%

25.9%

Fig. 15 Lockdown and loneliness

Yes, very lonely and cutoff

Not very lonely

Yes, sometimes I do feel

Not at all, I enjoy my owncompany

Figure 16 depicts some of the worries felt by the Indian youth during these trying times.

More than half of the respondents, whether students or employed, are concerned about the

competitive examinations for their career; its growth and enhancement.

58%

38.90%

38.90%

19.80%

6.80%

24.70%

4.30%

36.40%

17.30%

6.20%

8%

Competitive exams

Admission for higher / professio…

Self / family members health rel…

Not enough funds / money

Losing job / business

Impact on social life

Marriage

After pandemic whether everythi…

I am confused

I am happy go lucky, so not worr…

None of the above

Fig. 16 Biggest worry on the mind

Initiatives and trust:

Questions explored initiatives taken and support extended by the respondents, their

trust in advisories issued, sources of accurate information, and finally those

restrictions were for good or not.

Crises often inspire people to contribute. How many of the respondents extended their

helping hand can be seen in the Figure 17.

The most common contributions that youth have made in response to COVID-19 is in the

form of relief efforts, which is as shown in the Figure 18.

65.4%

34.6%

Fig. 17 Helping hand extended during lockdown

Yes

No

37.70%

14.80%

34.60%

27.80%

23.50%

17.90%

Donation (money, food, clothes...)

Been a part of relief team

Create awareness (audio, video,posters, ....)

Join awareness campaign on social media

Not applicable

Others

Fig. 18 Form of support extended

Youth are worried about many aspects of the pandemic and its impacts on their lives and

society. Unsurprisingly, their greatest worry right now is that they or someone they care

about will contract the virus. Already the over-strained health system in the context of the

pandemic and the fact is that many healthcare providers have closed their doors. Under

these circumstances, how the respondents felt about following the advisory is a shown in

the Figure 19.

Along with the pandemic, there was infodemics going on all around, super-flowing

information about the COVID-19 crisis. To filter out the accurate information, on whom the

respondents depend is depicted in the Figure 20.

95.1%

4.9%

Fig. 19 Following the COVID-19 advisory

Yes

No

16.70%

68.50%

45.10%

30.20%

5.60%

14.80%

Private media houses

Government health / news agency

World health agencies

Social media (Whatts App,Facebook,Twitter...)

Word of mouth

Others

Fig. 20 Reliance for accurate information

Trust in the government’s ability to respond effectively to the crisis, by its initiatives,

release of timely guidelines, advisories or even imposing restrictions are being judicious or

not has been explored from the Indian youth through this online survey. Figure 21 shows

the opinion for every one of us to see.

Conclusion: The pandemic and the control measures have brought down the life at

standstill. India is recognized as a youthful country since major portion of her population is

the youth. The present online survey tried to hear the voice of Indian youth while coming

out of the series of lockdowns and imposed restrictions on various aspects of the lifestyle of

the young India. The questionnaire tried to explore the impact on the education and

employment status, their physical and mental health and well-being, their engagements

during the home-bound period, and the challenges they face. The analysis of their

responses that has been presented hereinabove is to give a quick glance on what and how

they feel. However, in-depth analysis is being submitted for publication elsewhere.

90.7%

9.3%

Fig. 21 Restrictions can control pandemic

Yes

No