Development professionals and right activists urged Sindh government on Monday to prioritise to strengthen the rights of youth.
“Government needs to play the lead role to implement its youth policy,” urged Javed Hussain, a well-known advocate for youth policy. He informed that youth committees had already been formulated in Sindh’s 15 districts. “I do not see them functioning,” he said.
Speaking in an interactive session titled ‘Implementation Plan of Sindh Youth Policy’, Civil Society Support Programme CEO Noor Muhammad Bajeer suggested that all the government departments, including health, education, sports, law and others should work for around 20 million youth population of the province. “It is a huge task. Just one department cannot achieve the targets,” he said.
“We need to have helpline for them where they could get help in case of any emergency,” Bajeer suggested. “They need proper counselling. They need playgrounds. They need youth hostels in every district,” he added.
Sorath Shah, another participant, said, “we need to work on mental health issues of young people,” she pointed out, saying more students were becoming substance abuse victims due to extreme stress and peer pressure on campuses.
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“We need to focus on young people from rural areas. They are cut from the mainstream. The government should support them,” social activist and community mobiliser, Sanjay Mathrani said. He said that there was no need to bifurcate disabled or minority in youth policy. “Youth is youth. They should not be counted as minority youth or Muslim youth,” he pointed out.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Hussain said that the Sindh Youth Policy has been placed since 2018, which is an appreciable effort that addresses youth issues with commitment. “Adult literacy centres should be set up,” urged Professor Imail Memon. “Tourists groups of youth should also be developed,” he added. He said that without engaging youth, the government won’t achieve its targets.
Participants of the workshop suggested for formulation of the Youth Development Commission to support for technical advice, ensure resources, strategic direction and performance assessment.
The participants suggested composition and its mandate, scopes, at least 40% of the commission will be allocated for women and transgender including 30% youth for their effective participation in planning and policy implementation process.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2021.
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