Youth Unemployment in Nepal

ABSTRACT
Youths are actually the pillars who give the shape to any nation, community. The history is proof that for every positive change in society, youths have played a top role. So their skills, knowledge should be considered. In case of Nepal there 1.5 million of youth major fractions of them are unemployed. Due to the lack of ample sources of employment, they are involved in drug addiction, crime and other illegal activities. Not only have these the unemployed youths are used by different political parties either in the name of YCL (Young Communist League, Nepal or Youth Force. The activities of these youth groups like firing of news paper, strikes are serious and are in opposition to the fundamentals human rights. The consequences is that everyday heavy mass of young educated and uneducated youth are leaving community, nation to foreign countries in order to find job. The youth drain rate is so enormous that a general Nepali is questioning who will lead Nepal after 30 years. Now it is time to think towards that. Youth like me can co-operate with local peoples, international organization to access money to start business and to provide employment. One example can be selling the useful material (e.g. flowers, basket etc) made from polyethylene plastics which is here and there. By such project, youth unemployment can be decreased to some extent and my organization can be an example.. But for that we should appreciate the labor of youth and Government should help the youth entrepreneur.

Keywords: Pillars, Political parties, lead, international agencies, project, polyethylene plastics, YCL

Introduction
Youth is what, that is described as follows
'Youth is like a fire
Crept forward
A spark at first
Growing into a flame
The brightening into a Blaze.

Youth are the future of any nation and the partners of today. They are peoples of age 15-24 years. They are important for any nation because history is proof that in every positive a negative transformation of country is led by youth peoples. For example in French revolution, USA revolution, Nepal's revolution for republic, the role of youth lies in top position. They played top role in these positives change as they have warm blood by virtue of which transformation of this world into a heaven is the dream of every youth. In Nepal, population of youth is 65% of total population of nation. But peoples of these age groups are seeking job. Today every youth has dream to get a fashionable job and to spend prosperous life. So in search of handsome job, we see many youths moving to one place form another place. Some are employed but still 1.5 million are either unemployed or underemployed. The rate of youth unemployment is increasing. There are several factors that are responsible for youth unemployment in my society as well as in my nation.
(1) 12 years of Maoists war
From 1994, Nepal, which was said to bring democracy just in 1989, compelled to emerge in the sea of civil war. There were two parties during that civil war. One was Government and another was Nepal Communist Party Maoists. The initial slogan of that party was to destroy old kingship and to establish communist rule in country. During war many lost their lives; many lost their beloved children, husband, wife and other relatives. Many young peoples were compelled to migrate from the Maoists vulnerable place to safe place. The safe place was urban area to some extent. In that way population of town, city like Katmandu increased, due to limited sources of employment, employment demand became quite higher than employment opportunities available. This happened because youths in town were to survive by earning themselves for they have left their home, properties in villages. That was one impact of the Maoist war on the youth while there was another impact of the war on the youth. That was many young peoples were working in the Government service sectors and security sector. Due to mental pressure from Government and Maoists side, they became compelled to leave the job. In that way my society, nation has higher rate of youth unemployment. During war, industries of sugar, oil, were seriously affected and many of them ended to work. Due to which thousands of poor Nepali youth lost their job. Cause of industries to stop function were probably problems like strikes due to which it was not possible to bring necessary raw materials from neighboring countries. Not only during that war but protests, strikes like problems are still prominent problems of my country, my society. A survey done by an international organization reported that only 12 days in six months were free of any strikes, protests, in whole Nepal. In that case even a man of common sense knows, about difficulties of industries and effects on youth. This trend is not stopped yet. Nation's biggest jute mill 'Biratnagar Jute mill' has stopped working because cadres of different political parties beg money with owner of the mill. Due to that many youths have lost their daily breads. The similar situation is that of many cement, cigarette, and etc. companies. Therefore I think in this case high rate of youth unemployment is not matter of amazement. Not only this but different cadres groups like `Gohit Samuha`,`Jwala samuha ` are still in our nation. Due to this the youths working in the Terai are either migrated or left the job..

(2) Political instability
Although my country is in peace process, there are still political conflicts between different parties. No one knows what happens in future. Due to rude behaviours of cadres of political parties, investors are frightened to invest money in newer ways of economy. Many multinational companies have already left my nation. For example international company of famous tooth pastes brands 'Colgate' was heard to leave nation 3-4 months ago .This has impact on youth. Leaving of one company means subtraction of one ways to earn money. This is of prime importance in countries like Nepal, where no. of bigger companies are fewer.



(3) Use of Traditional Knowledge and Lack of Modern Knowledge in Agriculture
Agriculture is main basis of economy of my nation and society in which 80% peoples are involved and it contributes 40% to the total national GDP. Agriculture sector has still more potential to employ youth if certain positive steps are taken towards that, Agriculture is the main sectors of employment. But agriculture is mainly of subsistence type and not durable. The establishment of agriculture enterprise, farm enterprise is found in less number as it should be in an agricultural country. Today's youth employment rate can be decreased if agriculture practices are transformed into commercial form. For example my county is the country where the livestock density is highest in whole Asia. But is importing cheese, ghee and other dairy related food materials. If these food materials are manufactured in Nepal in industrial level then number of unemployed youths can be decreased.
(4) Lack of Youths in Decision Making Process
Only youth knows problems of other youths. Either in cabinet or in national planning commission, there is dominance of old peoples who usually not bring programs that answers needs of youth. Old peoples were once young so thinking this they should bring youth favorable programs but when they become old and reach in planning position they only use youths to fulfill their needs either in the name of political ideology. National education system is such bad that it focuses on theoretical knowledge rather than practical and technical knowledge. In countries where government can generate enough employment opportunities, theoretical knowledge will be better but in case of my society, my nation where only 5, 00,000 peoples are employed in the governmental sectors, the education system should be of applied type and technical, which is not. In colleges youths are compelled to memorize each and every line in books but they are not taught where theme of these should be applied in order to make him self employed or to open door of employment.





Consequences

A. Effect to an Individual Member of Society
1. Psychological Effects
In a society/nation where more youths are unemployed, each individual member or citizen become frustrated with the status of community. Sometime and he/she figures out politician/ teachers or others as a cause for that and sometimes he finds himself as a reason of youth unemployment. But in deed he is compelled to live to live. This is so because in my society where parents teachers/keep their child thinking that after study, he will earn money and serve them. But when the younger do not get any job, they see the whole worlds ruining but do not find any sustainable solutions of that in that case many youths are compelled to suicide.

2. Trouble to Young Women
Nepalese society is male dominated society. Population of young employed female is less than the population of young employed male although the total population of young female is greater than young male. This is probably due to paternal attitude in society. The married/unmarried female who are employed is behaved in superior way then the unemployed women. The married unemployment women have to live in house limiting in the daily household works and in involving in child bearing activities. I have seen the house, where the women is employed, having only a child while the house whose the women is not employed having more than 2 even mothers are under 24 years. In this way due to the unemployment youth women who are married are compelled to live the life of machine which only produces and produces child. This happens so because the unemployed young married women are said to be dependent upon their husbands for money and money is given when she is ready to give sexual pleasure to her husband.

4. Gap between wants and fulfill of wants
The dream of every youth is to have good food, beautiful house. This is true for both the educated and uneducated youth. While the educated youths want to study in reputed university taking different subjects. In order to get good food, beautiful house, good education more money should be spent. Due to unemployment, money can not be earned to fulfill these wants. There is a proverb in Nepali i.e. "There is Gold in Lhasa but my ear is without ring". In that case this proverb and real life becomes same. Overall these consequences lead a youth to be isolated and to forget these and he becomes either drug addicted or a terrorists. This is a real fact. In our society we can see many youngsters of my age being kept in rehabilitation centers as on evidence we can focus on news of Nepal, where more than 4,008 youths are returned back to home after approval by UNMIN for not to being able to of Maoist party.
(b) Effect on Nepal
1) Brain Drain
For being a developed nation, new visions and planning are needed. Only youths especially educated possess such visions and plans. But due to unemployment and continuous political unstability, many youths are attracted towards foreign countries. They are compelled to leave nation in order to search fashionable job and good education. Similarly uneducated youths go to country like Malasyia, Saudi Arabia in order to get jobs. For example every year more than 11,000 youngsters go to U.S.A in order to achieve higher education and job. And according to U.S.Governments Nepal falls among 11 countries from where greater population of students comes to U.S. annually. Data of youths going to U.K. and other developed countries is not clear as that in U.S. This matter is serious because country is not only loosing 11,000 youths annually but it is loosing 11,000 brains that could create newer visions and new plans and there is no guarantee that all of them return to home until they are young. Data of educated student is such and population of young workers going to Saudi, Qatar is countless. So I can say that my nation is loosing both brain and strong hands to work at a time. When going to foreign they take money with them. That means property is going out of country..

In that case nation is sure to face a human resource problem. Due to brain drain, proper planning can not be formed and if formed implementation of it remains doubtful. According to Tribhuvan International Airport office, daily on an average 7oo youth fly to foreign countries. In rural areas, there are only child and old, persons who can not provide anything to nation either physically or mentally, are available. If this trend of brain drain continues, future of nation is still darker and who will be the leaders of Nepal after 30 years from today? Who will lead us? Are generally raised 2 questions.

ii. Unemployed youth: A Threat to Democracy and Human Rights
In one hand country is in transition phase and on other hand, youth unemployment percentage is high. In that case youths are used by different political parties in order to achieve aim of parties. Youngsters are grouped into different youth groups affiliated with different political parties such as Youth Communist League, Nepal, Youth force, and Tarun Dasta etc.
These youth groups belong to different political parties. Works of these youth groups are seen destructive rather than constructive. In democracy, existence of all vision, plan and group is accepted. But in my nation, one of these groups is used by mother parties in order to permit existence of other parties in that area. Due to gang fight between any of these youth groups, many youngsters are killed and many have lost their functional organs of body. Not only gangs are facing problems but even ordinary youngsters are facing these problem. Youth behaving in the principle of one political party can not enter to village by works of youths of another political party. Not only these, these youths are used by different parties to capture land and house of other peoples believing in different political parties. This type of activities of youth is in oppositions to the general principle of democracy and human rights. But this is their compulsion. By doing so, they get money to spend their life.
iii. Involvement of Youth in Illegal Works
The horn of 'one-horned Rhino' is precious and one can get heavy money if sold. The population of one-horned rhino before 4-5 years ago was higher than today. But today population of one horned rhino is decreasing. The rhinos are either killed for horn or died. But in arresting the peoples, the youths are found to do such activities. This is just an example. Many youngsters are involved in illegal business of duplicate money, drugs, thieving of statue from Temple, bank rubbery etc . . .
c. Effects on Local Community/Town
I. Young Prostitution
. "Baadi" tribe in my community is that tribe in which, the young female of age 15-20 years are made involve in sexual activities. By making involve these girls in unsafe sex behaviours, their family gets money due to which they spend their life. Due to involvement in their sex behaviours, young ladies are found to be attacked by HIV/AIDS. This is just an example but there are thousand of young females involving in prostitution. They may be both educated and uneducated.
ii. Involvement of Youth in Unmanaged Plotting of Lands
Today the business of plotting lands for selling is proven quite successful. This is good for because less sweat is needed to find land in order to buy. But now days I am seeing fertile lands are even plotted to sell. In my community, fertile agriculture land is broken into small pieces and sold. This is not only the problem of my society but of my nation as whole where the fertile cultivated lands of major cities are under plotting and in this business, youngster are also involved. I think if this rate of plotting of cultivable lands continues where to grow crops? Will be a common question. It is not possible that in lack of cultivable lands due to plotting business, the condition where one kills his/her hunger by eating other human being is not impossible to come to my community/my nation.

iii. Human Trafficking/Girl Trafficking
Due to unemployment and political transition, young peoples are in need of job. In other hands due to weak capacity of administration, various agents for girl trafficking are present in our community. They attract gentle young girls and boys of rural area saying they will get fashionable job if he/she goes with them. With the girls, they practice the drama of artificial marriage and bring them in Bombay 'India' where these innocent girls are sold for prostitution and these agents receive money. While the younger people are sent to the countries like Iraq where the Nepal government has banned to send the Nepali labor. In such countries they face different struggles. Before 4-5 years ago 12 Nepali younger men were killed by a Muslim gang named 'Al-sunna'. It was quite dreadful. The similar events are still happening in our society. Actually these 12 Nepali youths were sent there by various agents. That was also a result of youth unemployment in own land. Not only these but many youngsters are brought to different countries where their organs of body like liver, kidney are removed from body and sold. Thus `Human Rights Watch` had warned Nepal towards that before one year ago.

iv. Involvement of Youth in Crime and Drug Addiction
v. Youth unemployment: A Threat to Stable Society.
The youths of todays are the parents of tomorrow, leaders in tomorrow. When youths fall in bad habits due to unemployment due to above reasons, then this creates direct effect on society. Malthus had said that when the population becomes higher, then there is struggle for food, land and every facility which in turn results in the condition when nature itself burst. In the same way in the community like mine where the youth unemployment is higher, fight between youths for small opportunity, food, water, health service becomes necessary. In that competition certain population may get facilities but the youths who do not get any opportunity are compelled to raise gun in the name of food and in the name of employment. This is not fiction but real fact. This type of phenomenon ultimately keeps stable society under threat. For example many youths practice ban robbery in order to find money for livelihoods. This type of news becomes heading of National dailies frequently.

Role of Youths
An educated youth in countries like Nepal where youth unemployment problem is prominent can do very responsible things. We do not have to think of establishing a helicopter company that will provide employment to millions of youth and implementation of practical knowledge we have, is enough for eradicating youth unemployment. I also work in organization named 'Peace for Development' in Sindhuli district. Being worked in that organization, several knowledge's are gained. Today our road is covered with the polyethylene plastics, fields of universities are also covered with polythene plastics. Not only these, but even in hospital areas we can see the polyethylene bag here and there. These polyethylene bags can be a means of earning money if we youth focus on these. The polyethylene plastics can be used in formation of hands knitted ladies bags, flower, baskets etc. These materials are just examples that we can manufacture from the polyethylene. As thus made materials look beautiful these materials can be brought to local market or tourist area where these materials can be sold.
By selling there materials some money can be earned. We had organized a training program to teach the unemployed youth about the manufacture of baskets, flower and ladies bag from these polyethylene plastics. Some of the youth women who attended training are saying that they are earning an average money of NRs. 500/day ($1= NRs. 73). This means they are earning monthly average money of $205.5 approx. This type of projects has two benefits one is that unemployed youth either they are man or woman can be engaged and they can earn money and second is that the degradation of environment caused due to the haphazardly throwing of plastic can be prevented i.e. the beauty of nature can be conserved. By this type of project the soul of sustainable development can be achieved. The training was organized by our organization `Peace for Development`. Actually this organization is youth led organization established on the effort of youths of diverse fields e.g. I am an agriculture students, others are from forestry, engineering etc. why youth should organize such plastic training program can be a possible question. This is because we are the youth of that generation who have to achieve the millennium development goals and conservation of our environment is also necessary. In the training more than 80 young women had participated. More than 50 are engaged in that business. For collecting polyethylene plastic a group of young women who are unemployed is made and collection is made on the daily routine basis. The manufacture process of useful materials is very easy. Management for the transport of these manufactured materials is done by our organizations. Main market of these products is local town and headquarters of zone. While doing these types of works, helps of other youth led organization becomes necessary as our organization which is just established may not have all the technical and financial resources. In that case the peers can make broader these types of fields and networking of organization can be formed by the virtue of which demand of organization can be fulfilled and the focus of the other organization can also be brought towards these. The monthly earning of $205.5 takes an important meaning in a society where thousands of youths are not able to earn $1/day. From price of $205.5 the fundamental needs of family having 6 members can be fulfilled and this creates a platform for the newer generation to think ahead of this. Not only this we can collaborate with various international and national agencies in bringing the developmental works. For example my district 'Sindhuli' is well known for the production of 'Sweet orange' and 'Orange' over nation. There was not any storehouse of these fruits before. But we are in process of establishing 'fruit store house' in head quarters of my district. The Japanese International Co-operation Association (JICA) has agreed to provide financial assistance. The agreement was signed by the Japanese Ambassador to Nepal and president of `Sindhuli Sweet Orange association`. Some of youths are already in Japan to learn about the techniques and manufacture of quality juice from sweet orange. After the formation of this storehouse, we have believed that youth unemployment can be decreased to some extent. The 'Sindhuli sweet orange association' is also led by youth.

Problems of Youth in Labor Market
:
• Difference in Wage:
Although, youngsters do same work as is done by the older, they get fewer wages. In case of young women, she gets as half as her colleagues male youth get. This is serious problem. This has created fraction among the labors and appreciation of work is not found.
• Socio-economic Barriers
Our traditional society is such that only youths capable of driving pen is regarded as youth and the labor youths are watched as a third persons. This is in directly opposition to human rights. If the children of someone play with child of labors, then the parents of former tell their children not to play with child of labor. Similarly the labor youths are regarded as bad person in the society.
• Unlimited Boundary of Works with in Limited Boundary of Money
I have heard that human needs 8 hours of works, 8 hours of entertainment, and 8 hours of sleep. But in t hotels or companies' youths even of age 15 years, who has not understood to live and the meaning of life, is made compelled to work for 14 hours/day. In return he/she will get only to low quality food to eat, but he will never get a TV to watch and a book to study.

Tacking Difficulties in Accessing Capital
In a developing nation like Nepal where these is lack of capital, it is quite difficult to get money to start a business or to establish an organization by youth. Only after reaching 18 years, a youth becomes citizen of the nation. So before becoming citizen there is no chance to get service, financial aid from the governmental sectors. But youths who are over 18 years can start business. Let me describe again about the 'Sindhuli Sweet Orange Association'. It was established by youths of age 18-20 years some years ago. Firstly members of the association paid some money. But later they urged local peoples to help them. So my family also gave them some money to start up organization. In 'Tihar', a second greatest festival of Hindu, a special rituals 'Deusi' is played where a group of youths dance, sing in front of houses and in turn they get money from the house owner. Youth members of that association also did that in order to get money for organization. This trend continued for 4-5 years. According to them, that practices became quite beneficial to them. After collecting some money, association started to store orange' and sweet orange in small house made in small price. Later they started to manufacture juice from these fruits on the basis of local knowledge and equipments. Now these products are sold in district and even in capital Kathmandu. Now the organization is to establish a big store station on aid of JICA, Nepal. So for accessing the money to start any business needs continued works, help of locals as well as other international organizations.
References
•http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/kailash/pdf/kailash_16_0304_02.pdf
•http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/imehmood/blog/2009/07/10/women-in-nepal-face-discrimination-from-the-womb/
• For work of My organization `Peace for Development` and `Sindhuli Sweet Orange Assosciation email can be sent at pfdnepal@gmail.com as these do not have websites.
• http://www.unmin.org.np/?d=activities&p=arms
•http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/sep2004/iraq-s02.shtml
•linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1049007807000577
•www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/horizons/traffickingsum1.pdf
• www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/nepal/terroristoutfits/jtmmj.html
•http://www.cctv.com/video/asiatoday/2007/01/asiatoday_128_20070119_2.shtml