India is a country that celebrates its own “Yuva Diwas”, or Youth Day, on the 12th of January every year. It was the day when Swami Vivekananda was born.
We celebrate it in order to immortalize his teachings and ideals. Various activities are held throughout the country, engaging India’s youth in different activities, motivating them for a better future, both for themselves and eventually that of the country.
But How Inclusive Is The Idea of “Youth” in India?
When we talk about the “Youth of India,” are we sure that it includes the youth of Kashmir as well?
Are there any such provisions ensuring that the level of exposure provided to Kashmir youth is the same as the rest of the country?
The unfortunate situation in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir is known to all. And this has been the case right after independence.
One most affected section is the youth of the region. They are the sufferers by default. As first-hand stakeholders, they have faced both tangible and intangible losses throughout their lives.
Steps To Be Taken For The Betterment Of The Kashmiri Youth
- The government would directly cater to the all-around developmental needs of the youth, especially education. The policymakers must ensure that the policies are very sensitively tailored to the status quo of Kashmiri youth. Abruptly applying the schemes applied in the rest of the country will just not work.
- Increased militancy in the region was a knee-jerk reaction to the terrorist encroachment. Since completely dismantling the army from the region is no option, their presence has to be made sustainable, ensuring that the people’s daily lives remain less affected.
- Directly addressing the core grievance of the majority of the Kashmir-based teens is abolishing a non-participatory approach while introducing anything and everything in the region.
- Establish institutions for the safety of Kashmiri-Youth outside of Jammu and Kashmir. This will have to be supplemented by educating the rest of the country about their issues. An ethical media too can contribute a lot to this.
- The government will have to concentrate the schemes in the terrorist-prone areas as the youth of these areas are always at a great loss.
Conclusion
Various steps have already been taken by the Indian Army and the current administration to improve things, and constantly evaluating them will be a constructive decision.
We have to begin by acknowledging the fact that ignoring the growth and wellbeing of the people of a certain region has a ripple effect on the entire country eventually.
And especially when it comes to the question of Kashmir, proactive steps are the only way to ensure a stable Kashmir and an integrated India.
Following this idea, we must understand that the situation is highly sensitive as the youth is the future!
