Different countries distinguish youths from the total population of a country. Most commonly, though, the accepted age bar for the youth is between 15 and 24. Many regard the youth period in one’s life as the best phase of life but we have to realize that youth have a very important role to play for a country’s development.
In the present context, most of the youth have deviated from the path they should be following and have ignored their duties and responsibilities. Irresponsible attitude, lack of discipline and civic sense, lack of patriotism, growing criminal mentality and curiosity in antisocial and illegal activities are found to be affecting the youths.
Youth migration has been a major problem related to the youths of Nepal. The dream to fly away to a foreign land and never to return proves this fact. According to the national population census 2011 presented by Central Bureau of Statistics, the absentee population in Nepal increased to 1,917,903 which is more than double the absentee population in 2001. Apparently, the population of male absentees dominates the total absentee population. The highest proportion of absentee population is from Kathmandu, followed by Jhapa, Morang, Rupandehi, and Kailali. It is one of the most crucial issues to be taken into consideration by the concerned parties.
Similarly, another fact that has to be brought into light is how easily the youths of Nepal are getting influenced and carried away. The political parties are using this weakness of the youth. Even a speech of five minutes is enough to hypnotize youths and make them do whatever the players of political parties want. We often see the same people moving to the streets and creating chaos during the strikes called by almost every party or politically affiliated group.
This is an example of how the youth are being manipulated.
The youth of Nepal have a long way to go and a lot of things to learn. We, the youth, being the strongest group in the population, must learn to love and care for the country. We are the building blocks of the nation and trustees of the posterity. Today’s youth should try to set a precedent for the upcoming generations. If the energy of the youth can be mobilized in a positive direction, it is obvious for us to experience a sudden acceleration in country’s development.
The government and the society can also help make the situation better and bring youth to the forefront. The government can at least conform to the statement made by Franklin Roosevelt, ‘We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.’
The writer is a student of Bachelor of Business Administration at Thames International College, Battis Putali, Kathmandu.
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