youth in rural community development by dr.p.n.narayana raja

8/3/2019 Youth in Rural Community Development by Dr.P.N.Narayana Raja

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YOUTH IN RURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Dr.P.N.Narayana Raja,

Principal,Madurai Institute of Social Sciences,

Madurai

The greatest asset of every Nation is youth resources. The social scientist describes

youth as "assets," "active agents of social change," or "decision-makers," as well as by

individuals who are promoting more democratic, inter-generational relationships through

"adult-youth partnerships. Swami Vivekananda the great Philosopher says to youth:

"Supreme value of youth period is incalculable and indescribable. Youth life is the most

precious life. Youth is the best time. The way in which you utilize this period will decide

the nature of coming years that lie ahead of you. Your happiness, your success, your

honor and your good name all depend upon the way in which you live now, in this

present period..."

Youth are the agents for sustainable long-term social and economic development,

and are an integral part of Nation building process. The United Nations has recognized

the important role that youth play in development of the world. The year 1985 was

observed International Youth Year for Participation, Development and Peace. The

General Assembly adopted in 1995 the World Program of Action for Youth.

The UN General Assembly has defined youth role in society as consisting of

following four components (UNA/40/256, 1985):

1. Economic participation, relating to work and development;

2. Political participation, relating to decision making processes and distribution of

power;

3. Social participation, relating to community development and peer group; and

4. Cultural participation, relating to arts, music, cultural values and expressions


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Active participation and strong leadership are not dependent on age, but rather on

personal factors such as motivation to achieve, vision, and passion for a cause. UN

Action for Youth agenda recognizes that youth voice should be increased throughmeaningful representation, participation in community affairs and political decision

making bodies. But this is dependent upon conditions such as opportunities to participate,

the supportive networks, National policies, and political contexts. The condition in which

youth can succeed is by virtue of two drives. One is personal initiative and the other is

social supportive networks. The paper is an effort to highlight importance of youth in

development of rural areas based on the five components of competency principle.

1. Character: Youth acquire a sense of responsibility and accountability, the ability

to thrive despite adversity

2. Confidence: Young people develop a sense of self-worth based on their ability to

make choices and take the initiative

3. Connection: Young people develop a positive sense of belonging to their

community, to caring adults, and to their peers

4. Competence: Youth are enabled to master sound educational and vocational skills

to earn a living

5. Contribution: Youth become civil minded and wish to contribute their time, ideas,

and talents to better their communities

Through this participation in development the young people gain self esteem,

confidence, and essential life skills such as decision making, conflict management,

teamwork, etc. As they build these competencies, youth begin to think of themselves as

partners and stakeholders in society


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RURAL YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:

India lies in villages and the rural development is core for the overall

development. Rural development has long been equated with agriculture but with the

onset of Panchayat Raj system and 73rd amendment of Indian Constitution the concept of

rural development moved to a dimension inculcating more comprehensive development.

It encompasses employment generation, health, education, infrastructure and thus youth

participation in community development and local governance has been articulated

several times over.

The role of rural youth has been described as 'change agents' and 'bridge between

technology and society'. Rural youth with relatively greater exposure to modern

production technologies, institutional forms, linkages within the rural society and outside

world and greater propensity for experimentation with new systems can very effectively

plan and play development roles to bring fruits of change for the whole society. Rural

youth have played as drivers by ushering social and political systems towards change. As

the first principle of competence says Youth need to develop the feeling of accountability

towards the community that they live in and to foster the development process. This can

be achieved only through their increased participation in the activities

Traditionally youth all over in rural community continue to provide additional

income to their families, diversify the range of family income generation sources. Their

boundless energy and innate idealism could yield higher results to the various

development activities which could bring out the desired social transformation. It forms

an absolute necessity to provide opportunities, motivate and train the youths for

involvement in programmes and activities which could develop the total personality of

the youth and make them functionally efficient, economically productive and socially

useful for the rural community. This will highly develop their self worth and thus their

development The big change can be initiated with the supportive role of Nehru Yuva

Kendras, NSS and other local youth clubs.


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In addition to undertaking programmes, like construction and repair of roads,

school buildings, village ponds, tanks, tree plantation, etc., youth can widely be trained as

trainers to participate in programmes like environmental improvement, hygiene and

sanitation, family welfare, child-care, mass immunisation, vocational training in craft,

tailoring, knitting, and organizing co-operatives. They can also render assistance to local

authorities and communities in the implementation of various relief and rehabilitation

programmes. Thus, as partners in development, the performance of youth need to be

channelised.

Youth are playing leading role with regard to their political participation specially

with regard to involvement in panchayati Raj. A majority are coming forward to take up

the reins of leadership. As participants in Grama sabhas, nowadays, their involvement

has far improved beyond the stage of silent spectators. But majority still remain

onlookers. When a portion of them stay away it not only affects the implementation but

also the accountability of the programme. Every Grama sabha should have a vision for

development combined with a youth mission. This will help in utilizing the productive

youth resource. Especially in the case of Social Audit it is noteworthy to say that rural

youth should actively participate in the Social audit.

CONSTRAINTS:

Rural youth like any rational economic agent are guided by self interest. The first

and foremost concern that they have relates to issues surrounding their employment.

Various employment programmes like TRYSEM has been initiated by government to

give push to the process. Therefore, there is no harm in assuming that most of them do

have a concern for parental households and community: it would be more realistic to

recognize that they would pursue activities that are personally most rewarding.

Employment is the most pressing problem that is also limiting the role that rural youth

can play in other spheres of life. It would be imprudent and unrealistic to expect that they

would be able to play any meaningful role in political, community and social & cultural

spheres all of which require a certain degree of personal financial security. A person who

doesnt have the finance for his basic needs are going to be less likely concerned with

Society and its issues.


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The other is the lack of training and other supportive networks.The government should

more steps to motivate and develop the competency to connect with the local

resources,provide them with competence in traing aspects to make them contribute

positively.

CONCLUSION:

Youth participation acquires particular significance in rural development

initiatives. The new generation must be educated about how to build a strong rural India

and to contribute significantly to development. But active participation cannot be

expected to happen overnight when a person just reaches voting age: it must be learned

"by doing" through experiences: opportunities to participate in decision-making,

weighing options and consequences. These are individual skills that help build rural

society and young peoples commitment to the rural development.

REFERANCE:

Apabarao Uppakar (1998), Rural Youth in Mordern India, New Delhi,

Uppal publications,

Gupta.K.R. (2003), Rural Development In India, New Delhi, Atlantic publishers,

www.alli.fi/eurowww.youthactionnet.org

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http://www.alli.fi/eurohttp://www.youthactionnet.org/http://www.alli.fi/eurohttp://www.youthactionnet.org/

youth in rural community development by dr.p.n.narayana raja

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