NATIONAL 9 (Spotlight Weelky)]

Political Pawns

With few opportunities and fewer role models, the youth feel they are getting a raw deal

By AKSHAY SHARMA

The hordes of young people that are a regular sight in front of Singha Dubar entrance mysteriously disappeared last week. On any given day, rural and urban youth alike can be seen waiting dutifully for their turn to meet their elected representatives.

Singha Durbar : Wherehas the crowd gone ?

The purpose is clear. Ministers and members of parliament say they receive each day several young constituents who are in search of employment. Jobs have always been scarce. But today's youth won't take no for an answer. They seem to be surviving in a world of their own.

"Nepal's society in a transition phase because of illiteracy," says sociologist Padma Lal Devkota. That process has created a confusing image of rural and urban youth , which goes on to raise questions about the role they are expected to play in society.

"Are the youth to be exploited as anarchists, political activists or members of other organizations that pose a threat to the future of the country?" asks Anil Chhetri, a student. He feels the country has more pressing social problems to attend to.

Giridon Bisson declared in 1793, "It is necessary to define anarchy. Laws that are not carried into effect, authorities without force and despised, crime unpunished, property attacked, the safety of the people corrupted, no constitution, no government, no justice, these are the features of anarchy."

Many youth blame today's corrupt politics for the way they are being misled. Kushal Timilsina, a student, says the youth are easily exploited by various organizations under the banner of nationalism.

"We should try to create an organization to raise awareness among the youth and to channel their energy in the right direction. Nepal's youth need not be portrayed around the world as the youth in the book 'The Lord of the Flies' are," he says.

A study says 300,00 young people enter the job market every year. Very few from this pool end up getting jobs. The rest go on to provide fertile recruitment ground for political parties.

"The youth must be given the opportunity to acquire knowledge," says Dr Jagdish Chandra Pokhrel, a member of the National Planning Commission. Few youngsters would dispute that. But they say they need time and space to develop themselves as productive individuals and members of society.

"Why are we being exploited by individuals and organizations from all sides when we should be focusing on future of the country," asks Kushal.

The adage that the children of today will determine the future of tomorrow has added relevance in a country like Nepal, which is trying to craft a secure future from the turmoil of today.

It is not clear whether the disappearance of the youth from the Singha Durbar entrance last week had anything to do with the Nepali Congress convention being held at Pokhara at the same time. But any student of Nepal's politics and its youth would be tempted to establish a link.