Regional Seminar on"The Role of Youths in Local Self Governance"

Organised by Nepal Foundation for Advanced Studies (NEFAS) Supported by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES)

11 December 2003, Bhairahawa, Rupandehi

Objectives

The objectives of the seminar were to generate awareness about civic education among the youths in different parts of the country. Many higher secondary schools in different parts of the country have started introducing Civic Education in grade XI and XII at higher secondary levels of education in the recent years. There has been a growing demand for civic education in the secondary and higher secondary levels.

Having realised the essence of this subject, the Public Service Commission, the Royal Nepalese Army and Nepal Police have included the subject in their officer level examinations.

With the assistance of the Fredriech Ebert Stiftung (FES), the Nepal Foundation for Advanced Studies (NEFAS)) has been conducting programmes in various parts of the country to collect views of people at different spheres in the society. The NEFAS has already published a book on civic education in Nepal. The book Samakalin … (in Nepali) has been recommended by a number of universities and colleges.

The book on "Civic Education: The Role of youth in Local Self Governance" is in the offing. In order to include the views of people from different parts of the country in the book, the NEFAS has been organizing several programmes since last couple of years.
As part of their programmes in generating awareness about the civic education and the role youths in the local self governance, the NEFAS recently conducted a regional seminar and workshop in Bhairahawa on December 11, 2003.

Proceedings

Around 45 people from various organisations in Rupandehi, Palpa, Butwal and nearby areas actively participated in the seminar and echoed their voice for the active participation of youths in national development activities.

Besides, lack of civic education among youths has also triggered series of problems in the society, they said. Exclusion of youths from development activities, growing frustrations and lack of civic education are also responsible for the Maoists insurgency, the participants said.

The participants further commented that the overall development of the nation was not possible, without active participation of youths. They should be encouraged to be responsible and accountable for economic and social development, said economists and social activists at the seminar.

They extensively discussed the role of youths in the local self governance in the existing situation. On the one hand, youths are deprived of opportunities. They are neglected and their creativities are grossly ignored by the state and politicians. On the other hand, many youths are confused about their roles. They are unaware as what role they should play. They are frustrated and deviated in the society, said participants. The participants also raised serious issues about disintegration of youths. It will have a devastating result in the society, they said. Thousands of young people are fleeing for safer heavens in neighboring India and Kathmandu, they noted.

They said that the development of the country was not possible by keeping the youths aside from developmental activities. They also expressed deep concern over the anomalies and frustrations among youths. If youths are put aside from development activities, society will continue to bear the brunt of confrontation and violence, they said.

Exclusion of youths from developmental activities will have a serious impact in the economy, said Prof. Guna Nidhi Sharma. Speaking at the regional workshop and seminar Prof. Sharma accused the existing state mechanism of tinkering with youth force. 'They are the real builders of the nation, so their force and creativity cannot be undermined, he said. It is state that should be responsible for the youth force, said Prof. Sharma.

The entire structure should be overhauled in order to give a fresh start to the economy. "It needs a real forward looking push to the economy," he said. Prof. Sharma also noted that the economy will further deteriorate if frustrations among the youths further deepen. The frustration constrains development. Therefore the frustration should last long, he added.

He also appealed all to go for some soul searching in order to go ahead. Today's need is to transform the society. The people's movement of the 1990 had radiated a great hope among the people about the transformation of the society. But all the enthusiasm died down when that desired transformation failed to take place. The corruption was rampant. The economic disparity further widened and made them more frustrated, Dr. Sharma said.

There is nothing more dangerous than frustrations. It kills enthusiasm and leads the society towards fragmentation. "Today's political turmoil is the 'cumulation' of all these anomalies," Dr. Sharma said.

Elaborating the cause of frustrations and anomalies, he said that the lack of good governance and corruption debilitated democracy and provided a chance to reactionary forces. "We need change at various levels in the society. But that change is not possible without active participation of youths, who are the real builders of the nation," he added.

Some significant change should take place in the society. It has to be completely overhauled for a new society. The existing state mechanism cannot assure social development. It needs complete transformation, he added. We have experienced a number of challenges in political, social economic fronts. People are quite aware as how these challenges have occurred, he said.

The conducive atmosphere should be created for mobilising the youth force and creativity of youths. If not, the youth force could be destructive. The cost of destruction and deviation could be very high. Dr. Sharma said that the state has become more market friendly, but the market friendly approach cannot assure the welfare of the community. It serves the interests of the certain segment of people.

He also emphasised the significance of 'equal treatment between equal forces," otherwise it creates, social anomalies and disparity. How can we expect equal outcome from the students of Budhanilkantha School in Kathmandu and a high school from Jumla or Rolpa. Has the state done anything in this regard?

There should be a fair distribution of opportunities, he added. On the one hand we go for market perfection and market friendly approach. On the other hand, we are guided by the historical legacy. The rate of unemployment and under employment has drastically gone up in the last 1-12 years.

The total trade deficit has exceeded to Rs 100 billion. Our economy has now relied on remittance which comes around Rs 70-80 billion each year. It is really paradox that the amounts received from remittances have been spent on luxurious goods, he said.

The proportion of aid and loan is 30 per cent to 70 per cent now. Dr. Sharma further said that the development of the country is not possible without mobilizing youths to the developmental activities. He also noted that the ongoing conflicts and the unrest cannot be suppressed unless the problems are solved.

Prof. Ram Kumar Dahal, while presenting a paper on "The Role of Youths in the Local-self Governance" stressed the need to encourage youths to participate in the developmental activities. Youths- the most productive force, in the community should not be undermined, he added.

He further said that the youths are shying away from politics because of the existing political and education systems. The existing patterns do not encourage bright and talent youths to join the politics, he said.

Prof. Dahal has made several recommendations for mobilizing youths to the productive works. According to Prof. Dahal the overall development of the nation will further suffer if youths are not involved in the developmental activities.

Shiv Raj Dahal, a senior researcher and sociologist said that the youths should be provided with civic education in order to make them aware about social dynamism. Civic education is a must for young generations, he added. Presenting a paper on "Importance of Civic Education in Nepal" he said that the youths should be encouraged to involve themselves in social transformation process. However, youths should be made well- aware about their roles and responsibilities.

Youths seem to be confused about their roles. On the one hand, our education system and social belief do not support what today's youths really need. On the other hand the state is not aware about potentials of youths. The country would have borne such dire situation, if the state were well aware about the youths, he said.


The entire democratic process, the existence of the nation becomes weak in the absence of active participation of youths, Dahal added.

Executive director of the NEFAS Prof. Anand P Shrestha said that the awareness generation programme would help bolster unity and sense of patriotism and development among youths. He said that the civic education was essential to guide the youths to the proper direction. It has become essential to generate awareness among youths for national development.

Prof. Shrestha also highlighted the NEFAS programme of generating awareness about civic education. Madan Prasad Dawadi, chairman of the programme pointed the need for generating awareness about civic sense. Civic education is essential for consolidation of democracy and national development, he added.

Hareram Shah lecturer of Bhairahawa Campus also stressed the need for converging the efforts of youths for national development. Creativity of youths can direct nation to the path of development. If they are discouraged and frustrated, the situation becomes awful, he added.

Keshav Lal Shreshta, a social activist and lecturer, spoke about the role of youths and pointed out the need to generate awareness.
He emphasised the need for delegation of authority through good governance. Youths should be entrusted with certain responsibilities in the society.

Jagat Rayamaji, a legal practioner in Rupandehi, stressed the need define youths. Who are real youths? Rayamajhi said. The state should realize the potential of youths and the non-governmental organisations like NEFAS should press the government and inform youths about potentials of youths, he added.

Keshav Ghimire, a journalist said that the media should be involved for mobilizing and generating awareness among youths.

Puja Dhakal, Teacher, asked " The Constitution may have given us so many rights, but are these rights being enjoyed in practice? The pritical situation on those rights and responsibilities need to be included in the paper, apart from theoritical dealing," she suggested.

Ram Prasad Ghimire, district coordinator NGO Federation of Rupandehi spoke about the role of state and NGOs in mobilizing youths to the right direction. Lack civic education has also caused problems in the society, he added.

Programmer coordinator Shiva Raj Dahal at the end of the workshop announced that the NEFAS would give continuity to this campaign for mobilising youths for national development. He also extended gratitude to the participants.

Anand Shrestha, executive director of the NEFAS appealed all to assist by providing suggestions and feedback.