Over half of young people in Bhopal are likely to welcome the New Year, 2014 staying at home due to various reasons including lack of safety and security, traffic jams, grim financial condition, lack of job security, growing inflation, cold temperature and others, according to a recently concluded ASSOCHAM survey.
“About 45 per cent of young people in the State capital of Madhya Pradesh (MP) are planning to go out and party with friends and relatives, while most of these have planned to celebrate the New Year’s Eve locally without splurging too much money,” highlighted a survey conducted by the Social Development Foundation of The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
With a view to gauge the mood of people and their plans to kick-off 2014, the ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation interacted with about 200 college going students, young corporate executives and people engaged in various professions including individuals and couples in the age group of 18-30 years comprising equal number of men and women in Bhopal during the course of past two months October-November.
About 55 per cent respondents in the city said they are planning to stay at home on 31st December and majority of them said they had been traditionally welcoming the New Year in the past partying away with friends, highlighted the ASSOCHAM survey. “About 110 of those surveyed said they are going to stay off the dance floor this New Year’s Eve as many of them are planning to ring-in 2014 staying at home and have no plans to go out for parties at hotels, clubs, pubs and other such places arranging special events on the New Year’s Eve.”
“There is a lack of enthusiasm, inspiration and motivation amid young people, as majority of them plan to forgo the traditional New Year celebrations of going out and partying,” said DS Rawat, national secretary general of ASSOCHAM while releasing the findings of the chamber’s survey.
“Financial woes owing to rising inflation was the prime for people to refrain from New Year celebrations followed by job security related concerns, rampant traffic jams, need for sound sleep, cold temperature and many of these comprised women who cited safety related issues for not attending New Year parties,” highlighted the ASSOCHAM survey.
Majority of those staying home this 31st December said they have planned to host a low-key gathering with a few close friends, family and relatives in the comfort of their home.
Of the total, about 90 respondents said they have made prior plans to go out for celebrating the New Year with friends and relatives, though, majority (75 respondents) of these said they would be going out for dinner parties with family or friends within the city itself. Many of these said they will go to a party at someone else’s place, noted the ASSOCHAM survey.