YOUTH AND THE WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION
The place and importance of the Youth in society cannot be overemphasized. This is adequately captured in Nigeria Youth Policy which stated that
Youth are one of the greatest assets that any nation can have. Not only are they legitimately regarded as the future leaders, they are potentially and actually the greatest investment for a country’s development. They serve as a good measure of the extent to which a country can reproduce as well as sustain itself. The extent of their vitality, responsible conduct, and roles in society is positively correlated with the development of their country.
The youth in Nigeria as in other African countries grapple with the problem of corruption ranging from examination malpractices to fraud and embezzlement just like the adults. Most of the Youth of the 70s and 80s are now holding the realms of power today and engaging in all kinds of corruption. It is therefore frightening what will happen when this generation assumes the leadership saddle. This is why concrete actions must be put in place for wining youth back to the path of puritanism and winning the war against corruption.
The meaning hereby participation of youth to have ‘Corruption Free State’ is an utmost necessary step. The same has even been recognized in India by some political leaders where, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu in his public speech called upon the youth (below 35 years) particularly those who were more interested in politics to wage a long drawn battle against corruption at various levels. He said the state is mired in corruption and only the youth can salvage the situation.
In India, every one emphasized on anti-corruption laws and policies but its actual implementation is only possible if integral building blocks of society: families, school communities, religious groupings, hobby groups, sports associations, resident associations, university groups, ethnic associations, professional associations or in short, youth at large become an active and aware member of social movement for ‘Corruption free State.’
The social movement will unite the high enthusiasm of young people with the professional skills and experience from the older generation to create new levels of charm and productivity for the nation development. Even it will influence more young people as their fellow youth act as ambassadors of good governance, thereby giving credibility to the policies and programmes targeting them. Here, the example of Tata Tea’s advertisement showcasing young students’ fight for corruption, make him a ‘youth icon’ of the country who aware the youth about reasons of corruption. This is just a one example to show the impact of one individual on collogues and fellow friends.
In the same way films like Rang de Basanti revolutionized the thinking of youth of our country. This shows, the concern of our young generation for our country and need to take affirmative steps to make sure youth of the nation becomes powerful and determinant to do needful for the county. For this certain steps need to be taken which should be more than tools and programmes; it requires role models who inspire.
Example of act of powerful youth against corruption can be illustrated as below:
In Bosnia, youth groups have organized a number of successful campaigns against corruption. For example, they are responsible for
• Organizing a nationwide campaign against corruption;
• Holding seminars for entrepreneurs and youth to meet and develop job opportunities;
• Creating a youth parliament simulation so that young people debate the country’s current affairs.
The youth of Bosnia has not limited themselves to the awareness programmes they founded their own party for far-reaching results. They want to make radical changes to build a less corrupt, more educated society.
And the same need to be done in India. We just need to inspire our youth and then definitely inspired and powerful youth will give us a corruption free nation. We need to fill them him with moralities and integrity. They are future of the nation. Their integrated steps and acts will give us corruption free society. We need to fill the youth with integrated values by adopting following approach:
We should not consider only youth as future of our country. We should give them a chance to be an active participant in the system or to be a key of democratic operation. This simply needs a change from traditional approach to modern approach.
The following division within a youth can play an important role to fight against corruption.
Young Politicians: The role and relation of politics with youth has already been discussed and I can say that it is the best forum to prove commitment and achieve the dream of ‘Corruption Free Nation.’ They as a role model of general public can revolutionize the whole system and fulfill Kalams’ vision-2020. A recent gathering of young Parliamentarians expressed loud and exasperated frustration on the roles of babus (Bureaucrats) in corruption scandals and immunities enjoyed by them in spite of their involvement in such scams. Adarsh Society Scam is glaring example of this situation. The gathering of young M.Ps first time publically criticized the existing system where babu has the best of all the worlds as it is impossible to dismiss them. Such an aggressive approach is a positive sign for anti-corruption fight.
Young Journalists: Press is the fourth pillar of Indian democracy. It is the most powerful tool to handle anti-national activities. A corrupt system only fears from media but unfortunately, media is also becoming a part of corrupt system. In such a scenario, young journalists may play a strategic role alongside youth organizations in promoting good governance. More than communication allies in outreach and improving public awareness of the related issues, they provide unbiased perspectives through sharp investigatory and analytical reporting, aired and published on local, national, and international media outlets (print press, radio, television, virtual press, blogs, and more).
Young Professionals: They are base of corruption free society who will promote morality, fairness, and social values by doing their work efficiently, effectively and honestly.
Young Students: Role of young students to fight against corruption can simply be illustrated by the example of Ecuador where one student decided to act against corruption and started a school campaign. The school reformed its structure making it more accountable to the students by creating school councils and student- teacher boards so students could air their ideas and concerns. The students of the school conducted a community survey and published the results in local papers. Because this campaign received so much attention, the school got the funds to publish an anti-corruption booklet for very young children explaining the danger of corruption through drawings and comics. This campaign spread to schools in other parts of the country and had a lot of impact in the community.
CONCLUSION:
In the end, different International Organizations who are fighting against corruption accepted youth’s participation as an important mechanism for the successes of their campaign. They believe youth as a part of solution of the problem because change in the system requires change from the major part and at present youth represents the major part of the population especially in India.
So, it is not wrong to assume that powerful youth will give us a Corruption free nation, but certain approaches need to be followed to assure committed thinking of the youth for their country.
Youth is a spark which can either burn or lighten the country.
Only positive approach will make sure that Indian youth will lighten the country which is under the dark clouds of bribery. It is the best medicine to procure the disease of corruption. They are not only the leader of the future but also the key factor in the present scenario who will give us a systematic and full solution of the problem.
- If we see we have solution for every question which might be cuming after reading this. But how many of us will work on it . Dont we (Youth) should stand as even we can see its high time . Every one say the future of the country depends on the youth or the upcuming generation. But this is my question to all. If the future of the country are the youths then why are they not given the chance to run the government . I am not saying against any of the politician or party . Just a question to all we need guidence for sure but we also need to run the system to learn and gain the experience under the guidence of seniors.
- Many points are there we can have a big never ending debate out of it . See i dont want that . I just belive this is the right time to stand for the country not on only words but in action with positive thoughts . I have decided i will stand . But have a faith that many will join me. - Shivam Sharma (Co-owner & Editor) Canners International
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