Much newsprint has been used up in speculating about how the youth of India — the 149.36 million first-time voters between the ages of 18 and 23, constituting one-fifth of the electorate — will vote. Leaders and political parties have made strenuous efforts to address in their rallies and speeches this “constituency”. This effort is also visible in the war for space on social networks, which undeniably reach a large number of urban, educated youth far more effectively than rallies or newspapers.
There are many reasons why our youth are important, far more important than to be just regarded as votebanks or “constituencies” which need to be analysed for the best possible way to get their vote. This attitude to youth gives the strong impression that some in the political class treat them the way endangered species are treated. Give their issues an airing on an annual day out, and forget about them for the rest of the year. That is what happens to Women’s Day, Teacher’s Day, Mother’s Day and all other such days.
Women’s Day, in particular, has become almost ludicrous with the original purpose being completely drowned out by a tsunami of commercial and irrelevant triviality, such as discounts at beauty parlours and free meals in restaurants. This 2014 election campaign, youth were the flavour of election strategies. That is certainly how it should be, but our youth also deserve that the focus be kept on them and their needs throughout the year, every day of the tenure of any elected government for, quite obviously, nothing can be more important for our democracy than the nurturing and well-being of our future citizens.
It is a bitter reality that the moment elections are over, political focus will shift to the usual business of day-to-day conflict, political clashes and quick-fix problem solving. The very real and pressing needs of our youth will predictably recede to the backburner.
Another striking feature of election rhetoric about youth has been the near total concentration on job creation, directed specifically at the “target” — first time voter. This is of supreme importance, no doubt. But, significantly, there is no traction in election rhetoric about non-voting youth, children below 18, education, school dropouts, nutrition needs and physical infrastructure and health requirements of young children from birth to 18 years of age. Some parties have mentioned these in their manifestos but the main electoral rhetoric is simply not focused on this vital segment of society, and the reason is not far to seek. They cannot vote.
This is nothing short of tragic. What is the point of creating jobs and infrastructure when maternal and child mortality rates are high? When millions of children do not have access to basic primary education or even health and sanitation? Our demographic dividend is stillborn if the potential of our youth is crushed due to non-availability of resources, facilities or planning for new born and school-going children. Several states in India, including my own state of Tamil Nadu, have created good models to ensure minimum facilities to keep children in school, and it was the revered K. Kamaraj, who never had the benefit of a school education himself, who introduced for the first time the concept of children being provided with a midday meal to keep them in school. This is an idea which has repeatedly proved its efficacy and success.
The Right to Education, one of the flagship projects of the United Progressive Alliance government is perhaps among the most fundamental building blocks of resurgent growth and democracy in the years to come. This is a commitment that requires far greater focus from political parties and citizen voter than it has received in the currently frenzied election rhetoric.
Election 2014 has been characterised by new lows of personal attack and virulent hate. I cannot remember another election where candidates have been physically attacked, manhandled and insulted. All of this sent the media into a feeding frenzy.
The Indian media is fearless, amazing and frequently brilliant in its reportage. For the most part, our media highlights important issues without fear or favour and presents unvarnished news to the people. While there may be stray cases of paid news or prejudice, mostly our media has been a true pillar of our democracy.
Nevertheless, my regret is that our media is still too focused on TRPs and sensational news to give enough space to bottomline issues that really matter, such as children’s needs and rights, youth and their needs and aspirations. None of these are remotely as sensational as a communal clash or ink being thrown on a leader. But they should be. If ink is thrown on a leader or s/he is attacked, it should be reported and the attacker punished. But news relating to health or education of children, or even jobs for youth simply does not make headlines because it is not “glamorous”.
The great leaders and revolutionaries of our time have all been youth. Time and again it has been established that student power and the power of youth can make or break governments, drive revolutions and bring about change. Our political pundits tell us that the youth of our country want a government that will deliver them jobs, infrastructure and good governance, and that they will not tolerate corruption or laxity in dealing with crimes against women. Our youth want growth and development, but even more than that they are idealistic, and hence determined that our country remain united, secular and strong.
I believe that our youth will vote with their minds as well as their hearts. They will vote for those whom they know and who will not forget about them or their needs when the election is over. This is the least we can bequeath to our next generation.
The author is a political activist. The views expressed in this column are her own
