Ranchi, Oct. 6: Population
Foundation of India (PFI) is now concerned over the dismal number of
questions that were raised by Parliament members regarding youth issues
in the 2008 budget session of Lok Sabha.
Out
of the total number of questions raised in Parliament, one per cent of
them were related to youth issues points out a study conducted by
Parliamentary Research Services’ (PRS) legislative research unit.
In
Lok and Rajya Sabhas, combined, some 10,856 questions were raised in
all, of which 119 were related to youth — a dismal figure considering
that India has one of the largest populations of youths in the world.
The matter was brought to the fore at the workshop titled “Tracking the work of elected representatives” at a city hotel.
There
were seven debates held in Parliament — three in Lok Sabha and four in
Rajya Sabha — related to youth issues in the budget session.
PSR
analyst C. Roy asked if the MPs were “really asking relevant
questions”. “They need to direct focus to specifics that affect our
youth,” he added.
The
average number of questions asked by MPs of Jharkhand (157 questions)
was close to the national average (169) in the 14th Lok Sabha between
2004-2009.
“But,
the number does not tell us the ‘type’ of question that was being
raised. We need to draw the MPs’ attention to subjects that are
priority,” said Roy.
Satya
Ranjan Mishra, the project manager of the PFI-Delhi, said that in the
budget session there were five MPs who raised four questions (together)
related to youth.
“Our
focus as a forum is on family planning and population development
issues. If we really consider the issues, the role of youths is
important, as they are the future decision-maker of the country. If the
country’s population is to be stabilised further, decisions must be
taken that involve the youths and give them life skill education,”
Mishra added.
After
receiving that specific life-skill training (education, vocational
training and awareness of rights) a young man or woman can be asked to
take decisions to either have one or more child. “If a youth decides to
have more than one child, he or she must be equipped to provide food,
education and basic facilities to them. The PFI is focusing on the
youth in order to stabilise the country’s future,” he added.
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