Stakeholders have underlined the need for more investment in the education and job opportunities for the youths to provide them a platform within the country.

Speaking at an Interaction programme on ‘Investing on Young People’ organised jointly by the Central Department of Population Studies and Ministry of Health and Population in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund and Sunaulo Parivar Nepal, in the capital today, Prof Ram Sharan Pathak, Chief of Central Department of Population Studies, said, “If all the concerned bodies come together, they will be able to implement the policies and programmes which they have not been able to apply for long. This will help increase job opportunities.”

The event was organised to carry out an in depth interaction with the youth and to aware the stakeholders and the concerned authorities.

The country lacks investment in education and job opportunity for young people, which has increased foreign employment.

At the programme, youths pointed out the need to make more investment on young people on their education and to create more job opportunities for them to work within the country.

Due to the lack of opportunities and job guarantee, the country has not been able to utilise working youths’ skills and education.

They also highlighted the lack of entrepreneurship programme for them after completing their education and lack of implementation of the youth-centric policy to address the problem by the government.

If emphasis is given on education and job now, the country will get a working population.

As per the National Youth Policy, 2010, youth are categorised between the age group of 16-40. Youth account for one-third of the country’s total population in Nepal.

According to Central Bureau of Statistics 2011, there are 10.3 million young people aged 10 to 24, forming 22.1 per cent of the total population.

Giulia Vallese, UNFPA Representative, said the representation of young people in the development process is not just a policy issue, not just a political issue, but a major human rights issue.

Praising the government’s commitment to close the gap, Vallese said, “For young people to be heard properly and to contribute to their optimal levels, they need open channels for communications with decision-makers. Their potential as agents of economic, social and political change must be recognised and invested in.”

Who are young people
> Youth are categorised between the age group of 16 and 40
> Youths account for one-third of country’s total population in Nepal
> According to Central Bureau of Statistics 2011, there are 10.3 million young people aged 10 to 24, forming 22.1 per cent of the total population

What we need
> Development of cross-sectoral youth policies in key sectors with and for youth, as well as in a youth-friendly manner is imperative
> Youth organisations at all levels should be provided with important forums to make young people participate in youth-led and youth-focused activities
> Developing enabling environments for youth participation which requires development of inclusive and comprehensive participation mechanisms at local and national levels
> Positive contribution of youth must be highlighted. Sometimes young people in the media are portrayed as trouble makers. UN says one of its aims is to help change this picture.Young people can be innovative and creative, and they can be agents of true change

source: the himalayan times,12 july 2014