"Save our youth movement" A timely action needed

A resolution passed at the Awakening Conference of the Students’ wing of the revolutionary socio - cultural movement of Dravidar Kazhagam in Chennai on 16th April expresses concern about the deteriorating trend of the personal and public morality. The students are under the wrong spell of alluring Cinema and T.V.shows, and IPL cricket matches. The modern electronic gadgets like mobile phones and internet browsing are put to flippant and even dubious uses by the youth. Being spoiled by such wasteful practices, they ultimately become frustrated and disappointed, ending in some cases in violent activities.

The apprehension voiced in the resolution is born out by a news published in the front page of a popular English daily published from Chennai on 21st April: A 17-year-old school dropout killed a 60-year-old Rama Janaki in rural Theni near Madurai in Tamil Nadu on 16th April, furious that she refused to part with the Rs. 700 he wanted. He used to do odd chores for the elderly women, his relative, and her husband, for which he was paid Rs. 100 or Rs.200. On April 16, he asked for Rs. 700 to go to Chennai or Bangalore to watch an IPL match. On her refusal he attacked her with an emergency lamp and strangled her when she fell down. Then the teenager removed her jewels. By the time he was nabbed by the police, the boy had pawned the jewels for Rs. 54,000.

Such tragic incidents are increasing in number in various parts of the country in rural as well as in urban areas due to the encouragement given to the consumerist culture and cheap entertainment by the market driven unrestrained liberalism.

The Cricket match played under Indian Premier League (IPL) has lost the status of a game of skill and has assumed the character of gambling, with the addition of slick advertising campaign, attractive and exciting dances in between and lavish parties. There are allegations of match fixing, illegal betting, money laundering, underworld wheeling-dealing. Tickets are being sold for several thousands of rupees, and at certain stages the amount exceeds even more than a lakh and fifty thousand rupees. These things happen in a country where more than 20 percent of the people live below poverty line (BPL). Do we guide our youth in proper direction? They are our hope, they need better attention, and deserve healthy atmosphere in all walks of public life.

It is sad to know that many among even promising youngsters have begun to think that making of a fast buck is the only goal in life. Such a view of life will impel the irresponsible and ill-informed youth to resort to reckless violence. All these are the natural consequences of unplanned, uncoordinated and lopsided material progress.

In a capital-intensive high tech scenario growth with stability is not possible in the absence of planned production and distribution.

Development that does not solve the unemployment problem will not promote the welfare of the people. Distribution is not keeping people on the dole. Nor is it merely providing unproductive employment paying subsistance wages. It may keep away the people from really productive jobs and, as a result, lead to general rise in price, further spoiling the atmosphere of the economy.

The performance of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) should be assessed from this point of view and find out the direct and indirect impact on the double digit rise in the price of consumer goods. We stress that the employment provided under this scheme be productive to ward off inflationary potential.

Another resolution of the Students’ Conference demands that besides education employment should also be made a fundamental right. Full employment is a prerequisite to ensure proper distribution of National Domestic Production and steady growth. Eduction should be value-based and employment oriented: It should shape the students to think freely and take independent decisions keeping in mind civic responsibilities. It should also prepare them for socially beneficial employment. They should be able to add to the resources of the country either as employees or as self-employed professionals or as entrepreneurs.

Addiction of any kindis very dangerous infectious disease. Hence we will have to wage a relentless war against these kinds of ignorance and idocy.

Schools and colleges are not enough to “educate” them; only rationalist platforms can achieve it!

--- The modern rationlist (May 2010)