Social Conscience: Gen Next ups the barometer in 2009

Taru Bahl — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:01:00 GMT

I remember how most of us used to grumble about having to complete the 200 odd hours of social service as part of the college national social service scheme (NSS) that we had opted for. And inspite of the sensitization to old age homes, blind schools and orphanages, most of us continued to be driven by the "what is there in it for me?" motive before we signed up for a cause that required us to "give our time, effort, energy and/ or resources".

Some of my batch mates I am glad ended up doing a fair deal of ‘good work'. As CEOs of their companies they adopted villages, ran health camps and contributed to the setting up of schools; as housewives many took to devoting time to local community projects; as responsible citizens a lot of them spearheaded massive food, clothes, medicine and cash collection drives when disaster struck.

But the skeptic in me also couldn't resist noticing that the CEOs got their initiatives written about in local newspapers showing their king-sized pictures as they mouthed holier-than-thou platitudes; the housewives — most of them rich and bored, felt it would be nice to talk of the noble causes they were backing as they played rummy in the club or nursed a scotch at a dinner and out of the responsible citizen category one actually walked away with a national youth award for his yeoman service to society.

So against this backdrop, am I glad to see young kids (18-25 year olds) today stepping forward to align themselves to social issues, expressing angst at things that refuse to straighten and collectively protest against inequities. It is good to see them emerge as strong stakeholders who have the ability to initiate dialogue, forcing powers that be, to sit up, take notice and swing into action.

Post Rang de Basanti they have come out in droves, passionately airing views as they join candle light vigils and marches to register their solidarity or protest — Jessica Lal murder and 26/11 being cases in point.

Many advocacy campaigns are now spearheaded by young people. NGO Hriday-Shaan's massive tobacco advocacy campaigns rode on the enthusiasm of thousands of school and college students who ran signature campaigns and participated in community outreach programmes volunteering to be key facilitators for transfer of knowledge from health experts to the wider community.

Ishita Chaudhry, managing trustee, The YP Foundation, a youth-led and run, not-for-profit organization that has over 1500 young ‘change makers' driving 100 odd development projects, says "There is a shift in young people, in that they have moved from wanting to rebel against the system to wanting to see it fixed and functioning. I see 2009 moving towards that shift where perhaps for the first time, many young people will see themselves as part of the system. They will demand to be involved through advisory committees, standing for elections and via constructive dialogue with the government contribute to their environment as they "become the change they want to see".

She sees the top 7 issues fetching top billing amongst issues young people will engage themselves with:

1. Voters Id Registration

2. Understanding elections, especially who the candidates are and whether they are qualified/ worthy enough to assume public office

3. Questioning the government and role of the media in public accountability and awareness

4.Talking about sexual reproductive health and rights with young people

5. Exploring music and performing arts as a more serious career option

6. Spending time volunteering with rural India and/or working with marginalized communities

7. Taking gap years after college and spending time exploring alternative, non mainstream career options.

And she is confident that none of the volunteers who step forward are likely to ask the dodgy question: "what is there in it for me?" On that note, wishing one of the world's largest youth population, a happy new year !

2^nd Jan 2009: A young executive at Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions sent this wonderful New Year greeting, tempting me to add it to this post, since it graphically enumerates what I have tried to say in 650 words! The mail came with a request to have a new year resolution: do something to solve global warming.

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Social Conscience: Gen Next ups the barometer in 2009