Read this essay to learn about rural youth in India. After reading this essay you will learn about:- 1. Social Profile of Rural Youth 2. Basic Needs of Young People 3. National Youth Council 4. Goals of Indian Youth Programme 5. Youth Service Schemes 6. Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment 7. Rural Youth Clubs 8. Developing Rural Leaders 9. Extension Programme for Rural Youth.
Essay Contents:
- Essay on the Social Profile of Rural Youth
- Essay on the Basic Needs of Young People
- Essay on the National Youth Council
- Essay on the Goals of Indian Youth Programme
- Essay on the Youth Service Schemes
- Essay on the Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment
- Essay on the Rural Youth Clubs
- Essay on Developing Rural Leaders
- Essay on the Extension Programme for Rural Youth
Essay # 1. Social Profile of Rural Youth:
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (1985) considers ‘youth group’ in India as persons in the age group 15 to 35 years. Youth forms nearly one-third of the total population of India. Rural youth constitute over two-and-half times of the size of urban youth.
According to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (1985), youth is a very special time with special challenges and is a period during which the body personality, intellect and social attitudes are developing erratically, usually independent of one another and frequently explosively. It is a time of life that is full of potential and problems. The social structure of India affects the life and growth of Indian youth.
Breakdown of the traditional socializing structure (for example, joint to nuclear family), urbanization, industrialization, migration, unemployment and the effects of mass media have affected the life and growth of youth significantly. The trend towards later marriage has prolonged the period of youth-hood.
The dilemmas and concerns of the youth have become accentuated rather than diminished. There is need to establish a meaningful relationship for them within the family and the community structure; there is need for them to be fruitfully employed; and there is an equally important need to satisfy their search for identity for their own emotional, intellectual and physical concerns.
Essay # 2. Basic Needs of Young People:
Young individuals have certain basic needs and interests. If their basic needs and interests are recognized since beginning and they are helped and guided to meet them, it would result in their proper personal, social, economic and spiritual development. A knowledge of their needs and interests will help the extension agents and others in organizing and promoting youth programmes on scientific lines.
Some of the basic needs of the youth as identified by Singh and Prasad (1967), are:
(i) Need for a good physique,
(ii) Need for security and belonging,
(iii) Need for love and sympathy,
(iv) Need for fun and fellowship,
(v) Need for achievement and competition,
(vi) Need for recognition and appreciation,
(vii) Need for new experience,
(viii) Need for a sense of personal worth,
(ix) Need for spiritual development, and
(x) Need for a sense of continuing learning.
Essay # 3. National Youth Council:
For serving the youth as well as utilizing the services of youth in a planned and systematic way, a National Youth Council was set up in India with the following objectives:
(i) Suggest policy measures and programmes for youth;
(ii) Advise the Government of measures for implementation of the plan of action of the National Youth Policy;
(iii) Review the coordination between various departments of the Central/State Governments and voluntary organizations/other agencies involved therein; and
(iv) Provide a feedback on the implementation of the national youth programme.
The members of the Council are drawn from the youth wings of the recognized political parties at the national and State levels, voluntary youth organizations, Vice-Chancellors of Universities, Principals of Colleges, student leaders, voluntary organizations etc.
Essay # 4. Goals of Indian Youth Programme:
According to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (1985), the basic goals towards which Indian youth programme is directed are:
1. Enabling young people to be better individuals through self-improvement and social service;
2. Promoting awareness among young people of the variety, diversity and richness of India’s culture and traditions and the need to preserve and promote the same which is unique in its basic unity and apparent diversity;
3. Restructuring educational system to relate it meaningfully to employment opportunities especially among youth;
4. Training the youth to use new technology in all areas, especially agriculture, where it matters most;
5. Paying special attention to young women’s welfare specially in providing equal access to education, equal wages, maternity and child benefits, special health care, the ending of social discriminatory practices, so that the social status of young women in India is raised;
6. Educating the youth and the need to control family in an effort to tackle the problem of physical, mental and social well- being of young people; and
7. Preparing the young people for their future role as good citizens by helping them to realize their duties and responsibilities towards themselves, their families, society, and the country.
Essay # 5. Youth Service Schemes:
In a vast country like India with diverse needs and interests of the youth, there can be no uniform programme. To suit the requirements, abilities and aptitudes of youth in widely different conditions such as, student youth, non-student youth, rural youth, unemployed youth, young workers, young women etc. several youth programmes have been developed by the Govt., of India. The important rural youth programmes are presented in brief, following Saraswathi (1988).
1. National Service Scheme:
The National Service Scheme (NSS) aims at involvement of first degree college students, on voluntary and selective basis, in programmes of social service and national development. It was started in 1969 and now extends to all States and Universities.
NSS organization is a 3-tier system, comprising the Central, the State and University/College level Advisory Committees. The College unit is the nucleus of NSS operations and guides the execution of regular and camping programmes.
The objectives of NSS are to:
(i) Render service to community while undergoing instruction in an educational institution;
(ii) Arouse social consciousness among students;
(iii) Provide them with an opportunity to work creatively and constructively with the community around the campus; and
(iv) Put the education they receive to concrete social use.
The activities of NSS are broadly of two categories. Under regular activities, a student is expected to work as a volunteer for a continuous period of two years and thereby render community service for a minimum of 120 hours per annum.
The activities include improvement of campuses, tree plantation, constructive work in adopted villages and slums, work in welfare institutions, blood donation, adult and non-formal education, health, nutrition, family welfare etc.
Under special camping programme, a camp of 10 days duration is conducted every year in the adopted area on a specific theme like ‘Youth against famine’, ‘Youth against dirt and disease’, ‘Youth for afforestation and tree plantation’, ‘Youth for eco-development’, ‘Youth for rural reconstruction’, ‘Youth for mass literacy’ etc.
2. Nehru Yuva Kendra (Nehru Youth Centre):
For the development of non-student youth, the scheme of Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) was initiated in India in 1972. The scheme comprises setting up in selected districts, one District Youth Centre and two Block Centres. A Coordinator is appointed at the district level.
The Coordinator is an administrator as well as a field worker and has a central role in the functioning of the Centre. Organizing Committees at three levels, the Centre, State and District; coordinate, advise and supervise implementation of the programme.
Under the training programme of N YKs, the following major activities, amongst others, are undertaken:
(i) Programmes of training for groups of rural youth engaged in various occupations in agriculture or allied fields to increase their functional capabilities and to bring improvement in their efficiency and productivity;
(ii) Vocational training programmes in selected fields in which opportunities for self- employment are locally available; and
(iii) Assisting the rural people in securing credit from nationalized banks and cooperative societies.
The trades in which training is provided often differ from district to district and State to State, depending on local requirements and climatic conditions. There are more than 40 vocational trades in which training is imparted. The NYKs also assist in the running of other employment generating schemes like TRYSEM of the Ministry of Rural Development.
The NYKs, mostly located at the district headquarters, are expected to carry their programmes to the grass roots through a network of youth clubs and Mahila Mandals. These organizations, already existing or created by the Kendras are affiliated to the NYKs and function as suitable centres for planning and implementation of the programmes. These village level organizations provide the micro-level basic structure to translate the objectives of NYK into action through the methods of non-formal education.
Essay # 6. Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment:
Another major scheme for the non-student youth, Training of Rural Youth for Self- Employment (TRYSEM), was introduced in 1979. The main thrust of TRYSEM is on equipping the rural youth who are below the poverty line with necessary skills, technology and training to enable them to take up self-employment. TRYSEM is a facilitating component of the Integrated Rural Development Programme and is implemented by the District Rural Development Agency.
The scheme is applied in the rural areas with both male and female, between the ages of 18 and 35 years. In case of carpet weaving, the minimum age may be relaxed to 14 years. The self- employed trainees are given subsidy for tool kits and for establishing their units, while in the case of wage employed trainees only the training cost is met.
The selection of beneficiaries under TRYSEM is restricted to the target groups of small and marginal farmers, landless agricultural labourers, artisans and craftsmen etc. who are below the poverty line. Aptitude for innovation, entrepreneurship and readiness for hard work needed for starting an independent vocation are given consideration in the selection. Normally, only one trainee per family is selected and within the target groups, preference is given to SC, ST, women etc.
The programme is operated in collaboration with the State level and village level agencies and officials. The duration of the training course may range from a few days to several months. After completion of the training, the skills acquired by the trainees are tested by holding a trade test.
Essay # 7. Rural Youth Clubs:
In India, the rural youth programme was first organized in the 1920s around Sriniketan in West Bengal by the workers of the Visva-Bharati. In 1953-54, experiments were initiated in certain parts of the country to organize rural youth on the pattern of 4-H clubs in the USA.
The Planning Research and Action Institute, Lucknow initiated pilot youth club projects in Balia, Etawah and Saharanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh. Similar programmes were also started in some other States like the Punjab and Karnataka. The progress of rural youth activity had, however, been limited and did not take deep roots in the village development programmes.
The Ministry of Community Development and Cooperation and subsequently the Ministry of Human Resource Development made concerted efforts to organize youth clubs as an integral part of the development programmes.
Objectives of Rural Youth Club:
Youth Club work is an educational programme. Its main purpose is to bring about all- round development of the rural youth. The programme aims at helping young individuals become useful, well-informed, self-reliant, responsible and mature citizens.
Singh and Prasad (1967), suggested that the youth clubs should function with the following objectives in view:
1. To lead a wholesome life:
It is very essential that the rural young people learn the philosophy of practical and healthy life. The youth club work attempts to develop in youths high morale and spiritual values to enrich their working, culture and democratic ideals.
2. To develop cooperative attitude:
‘United we stand and divided we fall’ is an old but ideal saying which the young people should learn and practise. The spirit and values of cooperation must be instilled in youths. It is the cooperative efforts and team approach which could help solve our complex rural problems.
3. To develop scientific outlook:
In this scientific era, rural youth must be trained to appreciate science and its- contribution in solving human problems. Development of a scientific bent of mind is prelude to any scientific action and adoption.
4. To improve rural community:
Rural youths are a vital part of the rural communities. Their energies must be mobilized and organized to participate in various development efforts of the community. Youths must be given to understand their responsibilities toward the communities of which they are a part.
5. To appreciate dignity of labour:
It is high time that our younger generation realizes the value and importance of dignity of labour. Such understanding and appreciation would help in eradicating the old traditional outlook, beliefs and behaviour.
6. To recognize farming as a worthy occupation:
There is a growing tendency in rural youth to migrate to towns and cities. They consider farming as an inferior occupation. This unfavourable attitude towards farming is due to their lack of current knowledge of farming as a worthwhile occupation, The youth club work shall help to develop in youths a favourable attitude towards farming as an occupation.
7. To acquire scientific knowledge:
In order to earn more and live a better life, it is necessary that the rural youths are trained in the scientific methods and techniques of farming, diversification in agriculture, cottage and agro-based industries, and other rural occupations.
8. To develop leadership talents:
The success of agricultural and rural development programmes depends to a great extent upon the local leadership. Projects and activities for the youth club members should be selected and organized in such a way that they acquire leadership qualities and function as effective village leaders.
9. To serve as agents of change:
Village youth while learning and earning as members of the youth club, could also serve as agents of change. This they could do either by directly approaching their parents or other villagers for accepting new ideas and adopt improved methods of farming; or inducing villagers through their own projects and activities.
10. To make wise use of leisure time:
Due to the lack of proper guidance and organized programme, youths in the villages might be wasting their leisure time and even doing something which may be undesirable. Youth club endeavors to organize programmes so that the youths could make use of their leisure time meaningfully and productively.
11. To conserve natural resources:
Natural resources are the nation’s assets. Many of these resources are wasted because of our ignorance and apathetic attitudes. Youth club programmes plan to guide and help young rural people recognize and appreciate the importance of natural assets and develop a concern and willingness to conserve them.
12. To participate in healthy recreational activities:
Recreation is one of the important basic human needs. Youth club programme provides useful recreational activities to the growing youths.
13. To aspire for continuing learning:
Learning is a lifelong process and there is ample opportunity for learning in non-formal situations. But the desire for learning is generally wanting. The youth club work, therefore, develops in youths an appreciation and willingness for continuing learning.
Steps to Organize a Youth Club:
The organization of youth club is a systematic and stepwise process.
The following steps outlined by Singh and Prasad (1967), may be taken into consideration while organizing a youth club:
Step 1: Study and grasp the village situation:
The first essential requirement on the part of youth club organizers is to know and understand the local conditions in which they are supposed to work. They need to know the people-their culture and habits, the village functional leaders, the village institutions, and other existing resources and limitations. A fuller grasp of the local situation, shall help them in organizing the youth club.
Step 2: Contact village leaders:
The first step, if carefully followed, would lead to the second step smoothly. The key village people-adult or youth, male or female, lay or professional, should be approached and stimulated to help in organizing the youth club. It is right time when the youth club organizers could create interest and understanding among the local leaders without whose cooperation the youth clubs may not function effectively. Many youth clubs fail to survive mainly because they do not get the support of those whose voice counts.
Step 3: Call a preliminary village meeting:
If the contacts have aroused awareness and interest in the local leaders and active youths, the youth club organizer is ready for the next step. The organizer should arrange after consultation with the leaders, a general village meeting in which local leaders, parents, teachers, youths and, if possible, some senior block personnel and representatives of Panchayat should participate.
Enough publicity of the meeting may be given well in advance. In a systematic manner, selected local leaders, extension youth club organizers and workers or other staff should give general talk on youth club work, emphasizing its purpose and importance. The villagers should be given opportunity to question and clarify their doubts.
Step 4: Approach active youths and adult advisors:
Now, the delicate part of acquainting villagers with the youth club work is partly over. Most of them are at least aware of, if not interested in it. However, they should be regularly contacted and consulted to keep them always in confidence.
Besides, this is the crucial stage when the club organizer should associate more with active youths and other village groups like play groups etc. At this stage, a strafing desire in active youths must be created so that they could move for an organized youth club.
Step 5: Call a meeting of active and adult advisors:
After a favourable attitude among active youths and adult advisors have been created, the youth club organizer shall call a meeting of these youths. Active village leaders and local school teachers may also be invited to attend this meeting. The meeting should discuss very informally the subject of organizing a youth club and its related aspects.
It is assumed here that the club organizer prior to this meeting has given enough essential knowledge to active youths and others about the club programme. The role and vitality of active youths and local leaders in organizing and maintaining the youth club must be emphasized. The meeting should end with firm determination of having a youth club in the village.
Step 6: Formation of the club:
Do not push hard to call a meeting soon after they have decided to have a youth club. Give them time to think and discuss among themselves. Help them clarify their misunderstandings, if any, during this period. Next, encourage them to have a meeting for the formation of the club. The active and interested youths, the village leaders and others interested should participate in the meeting. Enough publicity of the meeting will help.
To start with, the youth club organizer must appreciate active youths for their enthusiasm and endeavour to have a village youth club. Selected youths should highlight the purpose, importance and working of the youth club. Finally, willing youths should pledge to be the members of the club with all its obligations and responsibilities. Selected village leaders should congratulate youths for their efforts in organizing the club and wish for its success.
Step 7: Have an enrollment drive:
Now, the youth club is formally organized. Membership, however, is limited. At this point the enthusiastic club members should be approached to have an enrollment campaign. Each member, if works with the determination, contacting 4 to 5 village youths within a week’s time and stimulate them to join the club, its membership will appreciably increase.
Step 8: Election of office-bearers and club leader:
Once the club is formally organized and enough members are enrolled, there is need for electing office-bearers and club leader formally so that the club could start functioning systematically. After the formation of the club, the members need about a week’s time to decide who should be the right persons for different office positions.
When the members are enthusiastic about holding the meeting for election, the organizer should help in calling a meeting as well as in conducting its proceedings. A newly formed club needs at least a President, a Secretary, a Cashier, a small Executive Committee, and an elderly person as Advisor.
Step 9 : Adequate initial guidance:
The formation of the club does not necessarily assure its effective functioning. Many hurdles arise, particularly in the initial phases of the programme. The youth club members, as well as the leaders might not be clear at various points as to what to do and how to do it.
The challenging job of the youth club organizer is to bring them up to the mark slowly by regular supervision and practical guidance. It would be helpful if they are guided in selecting some projects in which they are interested and which they could complete easily. This shall build up confidence in them.
With a view to giving a new thrust to the youth club movement in the country, a scheme of assistance was started. It aims at assisting the newly set up youth clubs at grass roots level to enable them to start their activities and get established.
Essay # 8. Developing Rural Leaders:
In rural areas we find a few old persons already in leadership position. There are some others, particularly among the rural youth, both men and women, who, with some training and motivation can develop leadership abilities.
Following Dubey and Bishnoi (2008), the methods for developing young rural leaders are presented in brief:
Group Discussion:
Group discussion provides an opportunity to the potential leaders to learn how to interact with people of different backgrounds and with different perspectives, and present their own ideas.
Field trip:
Field trip helps the potential leaders to observe and have conversation with those already in leadership positions. The functioning of successful organizations can also be observed during field trip.
Observation:
Observation method is useful for acquiring knowledge about action of successful leaders – their way of communication, planning, implementation and evaluation of different programmes or routine works.
Apprenticeship:
Working under the guidance of successful leaders, for a period of time, enable potential leaders to learn about different problems and their possible solutions for field application.
Reading:
Reading about the life and work of great people inspire the potential leaders.
Giving responsibility:
Giving responsibility, and providing freedom and facility for work, can help in developing leaders.
Training:
Organization of training programmes for potential leaders and providing them the opportunity to get both theoretical and practical experience shall help develop leaders.
Essay # 9. Extension Programme for Rural Youth:
Anwar (2000) studied the rural youth in Bangladesh and arrived at certain conclusions and recommendations. These hold good for other developing countries as well. Learning opportunities for the rural youth in modern agricultural practices have hardly been provided by the Government extension agencies in the rural areas.
Rural youth get little care, guidance and training in crop, livestock, fisheries and forestry related activities. This is generally expected, as millions of dropout rural youth are unemployed who are still left out of the main stream of development. HCHCC, non-formal type of education should be offered to the rural youth so that they can be able to be self-employed by doing agriculture oriented income generating activities.
Some of his recommendations were as follows:
1. Agriculture and rural development agencies should undertake comprehensive youth extension programmes to teach the rural youth agriculture related improved practices and other economic skills to enable them to become self-employed and increase income of their families.
2. Youth programmes must arrange various useful training, related to modern agricultural practices to increase their knowledge and skills. It should involve dropout educated rural youth earlier than other youth groups. Elderly rural youth need to be given due preference.
3. Rural youth from marginal and landless families may be encouraged to undertake such programmes and activities which would not be hindered by small farm size. These may be poultry, cattle and goat rearing; vegetable cultivation in and around the homestead; fish culture in mini-pond and the like.
4. Able and interested parents of rural youth need to be involved as organizational leaders of rural youth programmes. The extension functionaries need to be involved for technical assistance and guidance.
5. There should be provision for organized sports and cultural activities in youth programme to make the youth healthy in body and mind.
6. Opportunities should be created for the landless rural youth for community service and recreational activities in their free time.
7. There should be also provision for literacy programme, including functional literacy, in the youth programme.
Based on earlier studies, Singh (1998) emphasized that special attention needs to be given on educated rural youth for high-tech agriculture. These young farmers will not only act as key- communicators but will also be active partners in participatory research.