Empower the youth first

Context: We can achieve that goal of self-reliance only if we enhance our citizens’ capabilities and we must begin by empowering our youth.

Are we investing in our youth?

• Definition: National Youth Policy (NYP) defined youth as persons between 15 and 29 years. 

• Spending: According to NYP report, Central government spends about ?2,710 per youth on education, skill development, employment, healthcare and food subsidies.
• Loss if not invested:  World Bank report projected cost (read: loss) of not investing in children and youth at 4% of the GDP every year. 

Youth and related statistics:

• Definition: National Youth Policy (NYP) defined youth as persons between 15 and 29 years. 

• Spending: According to NYP report, Central government spends about ?2,710 per youth on education, skill development, employment, healthcare and food subsidies.

• Opportunity cost of not investing on Youth: World Bank report projected cost (read: loss) of not investing in children and youth at 4% of the GDP every year. 

• Labour force participation: As of 2017-18, youth participation in India’s labour force was 38.3%. 

• Unemployment : 

• According to State of Working India Report youth unemployment rate is at least 18.3%
• About 30% of youth fall under the ‘neither in employment nor in education’
• 3% of India’s skilled youth are unemployed

The way forward

• Launch an Indian Youth Guarantee (IYG) programme:

• Similar to the European Union Youth Guarantee (EU-YG) but tuned to our country’s context.

• With statutory backing, it can function as a facilitatory framework for ensuring gainful and productive engagement of youth.
• It should rope in the district administration and local bodies for effective outcomes.
• Shall be implemented across the country to address youth unemployment particularly given the rapid structural changes in the economy.

• Develop a Youth Component Plan: To allocate budgetary resources 

• Earmark a specific percentage of funds under a separate head
• The Youth Component Plan would be formulated by the states and Central Ministries to channelise benefits proportional to the percentage of youth population based on sub-regional requirements.

• Streamline Existing Schemes: Existing youth schemes and skilling infrastructure need to be dovetailed and streamlined while leveraging industry to enable an in situ empowerment of youth.

• Learnings from MGNREGA: 

• MGNREGA has been very effective in providing rural livelihood security and social protection.

• Rural youth employment should be instituted alongside MGNREGA

• Develop Youth Development Index (YDI): It serves as an advisory and monitory tool for youth development; YDI can be revisited and deployed to play a vital role in crafting a region-specific IYG.

Conclusion: A focus on our youth is the first step towards self-reliance. It is time we summon the political will to guarantee our youth a viable future.