Young people with ethical conduct are not willing to come forward to join active politics. Suggest steps to motivate them to come forward.

Reasons for Youth Disengagement

Several factors contribute to the reluctance of ethically-minded youth to join politics:

• Perception of Corruption: Widespread perception of corruption at all levels of government erodes trust and discourages ethical individuals.
• Criminalization of Politics: The presence of individuals with criminal backgrounds in politics creates a hostile environment for those committed to ethical conduct. According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, 23% of elected MPs had criminal cases pending against them.
• Lack of Transparency and Accountability: Limited transparency in political funding and decision-making processes fuels suspicion and discourages participation.
• Polarization and Intolerance: Increasing political polarization and intolerance create a divisive atmosphere, making it difficult for young people to engage in constructive dialogue.
• Dynastic Politics: The dominance of dynastic politics limits opportunities for talented and ethical individuals from non-political backgrounds.

Steps to Motivate Youth Participation

I. Systemic Reforms

• Electoral Reforms: Implement comprehensive electoral reforms to reduce the influence of money and muscle power in politics. This includes stricter regulations on political funding, enhanced transparency in candidate disclosures, and measures to curb criminalization. The Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998) recommended state funding of elections, a proposal still debated.
• Strengthening Institutions: Strengthen institutions like the Election Commission, judiciary, and anti-corruption agencies to ensure their independence and effectiveness.
• Right to Recall: Consider introducing the ‘Right to Recall’ mechanism to enhance accountability of elected representatives.
• Internal Democracy within Political Parties: Encourage political parties to adopt internal democracy and promote merit-based selection of candidates.

II. Educational Initiatives

• Civic Education: Integrate comprehensive civic education into the school curriculum to instill values of democracy, ethics, and responsible citizenship.
• Political Literacy Programs: Launch political literacy programs to educate young people about the functioning of democratic institutions, their rights and responsibilities, and the importance of ethical political participation.
• Promoting Critical Thinking: Encourage critical thinking and analytical skills among students to enable them to evaluate political information objectively.
• Youth Parliament Schemes: Expand and strengthen youth parliament schemes at the school and college levels to provide hands-on experience in democratic processes.

III. Individual Empowerment & Incentivization

• Mentorship Programs: Establish mentorship programs pairing young people with experienced and ethical political leaders.
• Incubator Programs for Young Politicians: Create incubator programs to provide training, resources, and support to young people aspiring to enter politics.
• Recognition and Awards: Recognize and reward young politicians who demonstrate ethical conduct and commitment to public service.
• Promoting Youth Representation: Encourage political parties to give more opportunities to young people in candidate selection and leadership positions. The National Youth Policy 2014 emphasizes youth participation in governance.