The talk show was organized on Thursday at Hotel Hardik in capital to commemorate the International Youth Day 2015.
Around 90 youth leaders from various organizations and institutions, lawmakers, government officials, journalists and students, among other, have participated in the talk show. The talk show was organized aligning International Youth Day’s international theme of ‘Youth Civic Engagement’ with the national context and priority of reconstruction in the aftermath of recent devastating earthquake that claims around 9,000 lives and destroyed 600,000 homes.
Speaking at the talk show, youth lawmakers, planners, development partners, activists and leaders, among other stakeholders, concluded that meaningful involvement of the youths in the planning, implementation and monitoring process can only ensure the achievement of the reconstruction.
Presenting a working paper on the talk show, Dr Bimala Rai Paudyal, Member of National Planning Commission, said that post disaster need assessment (PDNA) has already identified youths as credible stakeholders for reconstruction and identifies a need to provide required skills in involving them for reconstruction. She also expressed a commitment to ensure youth engagement in the reconstruction campaign.
“The reconstruction policy is being developed and it identifies engagement of youths as critical for success of the reconstruction plans,” Dr Paudyal said.
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“Though importance of youth engagement in reconstruction is well recognized in policies and strategies of recovery and reconstruction, there is still lack of a more comprehensive policy of engaging youths with clear roles,” she added.
Commenting on the paper of NPC member Dr Paudyal, Bimal Kumar Phnuyal, Country Director of AAIN, said that the PDNA and other policies put forth by the government and NPC largely speak largely about the roles of the government in the reconstruction process.
“The reconstruction process and policy did not come into the larger public discourse. It speaks about the short term reconstruction only. It falls short on identifying the roles of the youth and other communities in the process,” he said.
He also emphasized on the need social and cultural rebuilding along with the reconstruction process.
“The reconstruction of structure is very much important in the aftermath of the earthquake. Equally important is the rebuilding of the community to ensure social and economic empowerment. The reconstruction should be the process for the democratic transformation,” added Phnyual.
Youth leaders from various organizations and inter party youth network also said that the reconstruction process should engage and involve in the process of the reconstruction. They also underlined the need of policies to utilize the skills and knowledge of youths including the migrant workers in the reconstruction.
Gyan Raj Subedi, under secretary at MOYS, said that the ministry has formulated policies to facilitate mainstreaming the agenda of the youth.
Also speaking at the talk show, Constituent Assembly (CA) members warned that the reconstruction campaign led by the government may not succeed if it fails to ensure meaningful participation of the youths in the whole process.
Sher Bahadur Tamang, CA member from CPN-UML, said that the youth roles in rescue and rehabilitation in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake is laudable. “Reconstruction now is not possible from the old, outdated and conventional approach. Youth can give fresh perspectives which will ensure sustainable reconstruction,” he added.
Badri Panday, youth CA member from Nepali Congress, echoed Tamang. “Youth have a caliber to build back better. If the government do not collaborate and engage youths in the reconstruction, the reconstruction process is bound to fail,” said Badri Panday, youth CA member from Nepali Congress. “However, there is also a need of skilled manpower in the reconstruction. Youth should be provided necessary skill training to meet the shortage of such human resources,” he added.
