The meet which lasted for two days, saw youth leaders of 19 different youth wings of various political parties sit together and exchange ideas and opinions on a variety of topics regarding their organization’s policies, future plans and also the state of the current government. [break]
Apart from their internal affairs, the leaders discussed the role of the youth in policy level decisions and constitution making.
The Joint Youth and Students Platform, is a collaborative organization of the major 19 political youth and student organizations of Nepal. The Platform, according to its members aims to “raise the voice of youth in politics.”
This platform regularly holds meeting and also conducts various programs with the aim of creating cross-party collaboration and advancement of joint initiatives.
Here, participants consist not only of political youth but various student organizations that have been given space on the platform.
The voices of personalities ranging from various ideological backgrounds coming together aims and strives to serve as a venue for reflection, information-sharing and learning across party-lines.
“The platform is a good place to hold discussions among the youth wing representatives of various parties,” opined Mahendra Yadav, President of Nepal Tarun Dal, Youth Wing of Nepali Congress, further adding, “this platform makes possible collective efforts resulting in enhancing the engagement of youths in political decision-making.”
The platform as a whole and the various programs conducted by it are organized by DEMO Finland, which is a collaboration of Political Parties of Finland for Democracy.
In Finland, DEMO functions as a co-operative organization for Finnish parliamentary parties.
The purpose behind DEMO’s projects in Nepal is to promote mutual learning and strengthen Multi Party dialogue,” elaborated Larissa Bruun Program Coordinator of DEMO for Nepal.
She further explained that DEMO launched a youth program in Nepal due to a local request in 2007.
After four years of its completion, the organization boasts of 19 out of the 31 youth wings of various political parties along with pending request for participation of a few more.
Speaking at the conference, Madhav Dhungel President of All Nepal National Free Students´ Union (ANNFSU) informed that all future tasks carried out by The Joint Youth and Students Platform should give out a positive message to the government.
The youth leaders discussed measures that could be adopted to pressurize the government to draft the new constitution on time.
“We need to find out ways and carry out creative yet affective programs to pressure the government,” he said.
At the meeting the youth leaders and student representatives also discussed various issues on education, environment and the role the youth can play towards betterment of these fields.
Also a part of the conference was an open discussion between the members and representatives of various media houses, on the need to work together and highlight youth issues, in-order to bring about positive changes.
As a youth leader which sector regarding the youth do you think needs immediate attention?
I think the most important thing for now is to draft the constitution. Once it is drafted all other things will fall in place. Upon completion of the above process, we need to pay attention to the education sector which requires various changes and improvements. The first change in this sector should be to provide education free of cost. If the youths of the country are educated they can come up with ideas and innovation, which when collaborated can work towards the betterment of the country as whole.
Mahendra Yadav
President Nepal Tarun Dal, Youth Wing of Nepali Congress
I am of the opinion that the old needs to be replaced by the new. That is how nature works as well, old leaves fall of and their place is taken by new shiny ones. However, if we look at our own political system, the lead has been taken by the old ones and very less is heard of what the youths want to say. This could be one of the main reasons why the youths of Nepal are fleeing to foreign lands. When the government does not pay attention, it is obvious that the youth get frustrated. Instead if they are granted positions in power sectors like education, only then will employment and equal opportunity be provided resulting in overall benefit of the youth.
Mahesh Basnet
Chairperson, Youth Federation Nepal
I think we are all aware that the education sector requires the most changes. From providing equal opportunity to a girl child and sending her to school, to increasing the quality of education in government schools, to providing education free of costs, we are lacking behind everywhere. Once education is provided to all, we will have skilled manpower working towards the betterment of all other remaining sectors. Also, I would like to opine that this is only possible if the political parties give up their selfish interests and work towards a common goal.
Urmila Thapaliya
Central Committee member of Nepal Student Union (NSU)
These days, many youths are engaged in alcohol and drug abuse. Although coming from an educated and a family that is well aware, along with being educated themselves, youths today seem to somehow ignore the dreadful consequences brought about by drugs and alcohol. Not only are they wasting their valuable time and money but the country as a whole is bearing the loss of manpower through them. Accidents and hooliganism are prompted by these abusers that not only cause harm to themselves but also hamper others.
Deepa Mishra
Representative, Terai Madesh Student Front
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