The following essay has been adjudged by the Committee of Jury headed by Prof. Y S Rajan for the cash award of Rs.5,000/-.  This essay was submitted by Ms V S Meenakkshi, First Year Student (EIE), Valliammal Engineering College, SRM Nagar, Kattangulathur 603203.

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INDIA VISION 2020 - ROLE OF YOUTH IN BUILDING STRONG INDIA

INTRODUCTION:

VISION 2020 can be better described as Vision 20/20 (perfect vision in American style).

It is well known that India is home to a significant proportion of the youth of the world today. All the imperialists of the world are eyeing India as the source of technical manpower. They are looking at our girls and boys as the source of talents at low cost for their future super-profits. If Indian youth make up their mind, and work in close unity with the working class, they can foil the plans of imperialism and the bourgeoisie. The plunder of India can be ended. With political power in their hands, the workers, peasants, women and youth will be able to ensure that there is work for all. They will ensure that what is produced is geared towards providing adequately for all members of Indian society.

TYPES OF VISION:

That too is a realisable vision.

Ø      The first disastrous vision will materialise if we let matters drift.

Ø      The second can be realised only if

(a) We dare to have such a vision and

(b) Strive for it.

  Unfortunately, no one -- intellectuals, engineers, bureaucrats or politicians -- is bothered to dream any such vision. Martin Luther King said, ``I have a dream'', and the dream came largely true. If he had not thought of that dream, he would have accomplished nothing. To climb high, one has to dream of climbing the Everest. One may not go higher than 10,000 feet but even that will not be attained if you have no better dream than going up to the top floor of your office in a lift. Prosperity does not come when you wait passively for something to happen, but when you strive actively to make good things happen.

Kalam’s words:

 The mission is: In transforming India into a developed nation by 2020, what can be the role of every citizen in addition to the governmental initiatives of launching programmes for the vision of a developed India. This type of dynamic environment with motivation will indeed be a great foundation for our vision of transforming India into a 'developed' nation by 2020. 

In recent years, the world has come to look at India with renewed respect, recognizing a strong and prosperous global power in the making  It is also a future when the fabled richness of India’s culture, arts, intellectual exploration, and spiritual pursuit will begin to show its full radiance, bringing much succor to the troubled spirit of the modern man.

 Is this a dream? Yes. Is it an impossible dream? No, it is not.   This can be done by the youth of India. 

Youth is the spring of life. It is the age of discovery and dreams.  When they dream, they dream not only for a good future for themselves, but also a good future for their Nation and the entire humanity.  Their dreams take them to stars and galaxies, to the far corners of the Unknown. And some of them, like our own Kalpana Chawla, pursue their dream till they realise it and even die for it in the process.

If any section of society, in any country, is most impatient for change, it is the youth.  Patriotism comes naturally to young people. But they also easily respond to the call of internationalism. 

HOPES OF YOUTH: 

Ø      A world free of poverty, unemployment, inequality and exploitation of man by man.

Ø      A world free of discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, language and gender.

Ø      A world full of creative challenges and opportunities to conquer them.

 These are not empty hopes. Modern science and technology, and the increasing vistas of socio-economic cooperation among nations, have brought these hopes within the reach of realisation.

 STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM: 

In recent times, terrorism has emerged as one of the gravest threats to peace and a democratic policy. 

Youth are drawn between different acts of terrorism. In some cases, it is not really terrorism, but a freedom struggle. This is how our neighbour has been trying to justify its policy of cross-border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. Youth organisations should carry out an awareness campaign to expose justification or condoning of terrorism anywhere and under whatever pretext. 

ROLE OF YOUTH: 

Ø      The youth can play a vital role in the implementation of the elimination of terrorism.  If the energy, intelligence and resources of the youth of the country are properly utilised, the country will prosper.  If they are misused, the country will go to dogs.

Ø      They have to compete, they like doing so with a sporting spirit. Just look at the spirit of internationalism that today pervades the cricketing world, with the start of the World Cup Tournament in South Africa. No matter which team wins, cricket will win. Youthfulness will win. The spirit of oneness will win.

Ø      The youth would need to aspire for entrepreneurship rather than conventional employment.

Ø      The hopes of the young people can be fulfilled only in conditions of peace, only in a civilised and cooperative world order.

Ø      Young people are full of vibrant ideas.  When properly motivated and sufficiently guided, they know what they want in life.

Ø      Young people have the energy to try out things and the patience to learn from mistakes.  Giving young people opportunities to plan, to decide, and to work prepares them to face harsher realities in life.

Ø      Youth participation is important because youth are the country's power.  Youth recognise problems and can solve them.  Youth are strong forces in social movements.  They educate children about their rights.  They help other young people attain a higher level of intellectual ability and to become qualified adults. 

VISION OF INDIA 2020: 

Ø      Instead of brain drain, we can be the magnet for bright minds the world over.

Ø      Our judicial system could be a model for fairness, promptness and incorruptibility.

Ø      Our legislatures could be an acme of integrity, farsightedness and purposefulness.

Ø      Our habitats could be clean with abundant municipal services.

Ø      We can be Olympic champions.

Ø      We can have 100 per cent literacy.

Ø      Per capita income can go up in geometric proportions.

Ø      We can have full employment.

Ø      We can earn the reputation of being the most transparent, the most honest nation.

Ø      We could be the most competitive nation.

Ø      In this vision period, the whole government agency has to build a name for itself, by fast decision-making and transparent administration.

Ø      Media should become a partner and promoter critic in national development. 

CONCLUSION: 

India can become a developed nation only if everyone contributes to the best of his or her ability and capacity. Youth is wholly experimental and with the full utilization of the talents of the youth, India will become a “complete nation”.  Let us hope for the same.