India needs short-term initiatives and a long-term strategy to reverse the decline in academic and professional values and save the young manpower of the nation. Or else, the country’s demographic dividend will be sadly wasted
With around 65 per cent of its population below 35 years of age, India leads the list of countries that are supposed to reap the advantages of the democratic dividend It appears glamorously encouraging, particularly for the youngsters of India, presently in schools and colleges.
Expectedly, diverse opportunities will open up not only within India but also in the ageing society of the West. Who would not like to go and work abroadIJ Young Indians who worked abroad after independence have brought great glory to the nation, excelled themselves in knowledge, skills and innovations.
On the home front, it is increasingly being realised that skill development cannot be neglected anymore. We now have a separate Union Ministry for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and also a National Skill Development Corporation. Ambitious targets have been laid down to impart skill training to the young and not-so-young alike.
Even in an environment of great expectation, it is always advisable to have a pragmatic assessment of reality at the grassroots level. These can lay the foundation for the quality of skill imparted and acquired. Can anyone think of reaping the much-hyped demographic dividend without analysing the reports on mass cheating in Vaishali district of Bihar and, without securitising the conditions that lead to the paper leak fiasco in the examination being conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service CommissionIJ
These are not two isolated incidents; these represent a disastrous decline of moral standards and ethical norms in the system of governance and in public life. Organised cheating in board examinations and well-planned and incisively-executed subversion of job recruitment examinations are clear cases of ruining the generations ahead.
Why should these not be brought in the category of sedition and treasonIJ Who will have the courage to stand up and declare that those involved in these incidents will be dealt with as criminals, guilty of waging war against the nationIJ Innocent young persons are forced into criminality by these unscrupulous elements.
Mass cheating in the States of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, during the Madhya Pradesh Vyavsayik Pareeksha Mandal scam in Madhya Pradesh, widespread smuggling and avaibility of drugs in Punjab are all attempts to ruin the young manpower of the nation. Can there be a greater loss inflicted on this country than thisIJ It is exasperating that none of these problems is treated as an aggression against the nation! It is common knowledge that such planned criminal activities are invariably protected and supported by politicians and their cronies.
The legends of bravery and valour of the young persons from Punjab are sung in every part of India, and also abroad. At the same time, the alarming levels of drug addiction in that State require sustained remedial action. Mere pious statements, such as ‘we shall take strict action against the culprits’ shall not do. That it has been allowed to flourish, indicates that either the Government machinery is complicit or it consists of thoroughly incompetent functionaries.
The Madhya Pradesh job recruitment scandal proves this beyond doubt. A faint ray of hope could be seen in several of the culprits being behind bars. But many more must be outside, enjoying the pleasures of their misadventure. If for four to five years, jobs are grabbed by the nexus of corrupt politicians and ‘mafia’ money bags, thousands of eligible young persons shall suffer the pain of denial, injustice and deprivation. Their talent and creativity will be lost to the nation.
In Uttar Pradesh, one can comprehend how deep-rooted the practice of cheating in examinations has become by be recalling that an Ordinance against cheating in examinations was promulgated around 1990-1991. Then Education Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Rajnath Singh, put his entire political future on the guillotine with this bold act. Mr Singh had been a student of professors of the earlier times who lived a value-based life and inculcated values amongst their students. His attempt to curb cheating remains a rare instance of a young politician who gave priority to principles over politics. He knew it would be unscrupulously taken advantage of by his political rivals.
And that’s exactly what how things happened. His adversaries grabbed the opportunity, declared that if they come to power, the Ordinance would be scrapped within an hour. Gullible children and parents, unaware of the consequences of this unethical poll bait, fell for in their trap. Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, a former school teacher himself, came to power and scrapped the Ordinance. There were Statewide celebrations and these extended right up to the announcement of the board exam results: From 14.3 per cent, the pass percentage rose to 90 per cent.
This remains the meaning of progress and development in education in Uttar Pradesh even today. Travelling from Gorakhpur to Varanasi during the board examinations, one could see at least at five centers and the entire village turning up to assist the examinees. When asked why he was a party in this farce, an elderly gentleman said: “We are giving them a better and bright future”. Another said: “How can we allow the rival center to perform better than oursIJ Our prestige is at stake!” The level of civility of a society and its system of governance is judged by the manner it nurtures its young. This is done through the process of generational transfer of knowledge that is the responsibility of the parents, family, community and the system of imparting formal education.
Children look for role models from the early years. India needs both short-term initiatives and long-term strategy to reverse the decline that is so evident. This certainly is not the India our freedom-fighters had dreamt of.