Let me ask you, dear reader: Are you doing your bit for social good? A rough estimate reports that Jammu and Kashmir has aged between 15 and 29 around 29% youth. Turning a blind eye to the undesirable behavior of this significant young population, our future, looks set to produce an irresponsible and incompetent citizenry. That we can ill afford.
Notably, the occurrence of horrifying incidents — involving youths — comes to light almost routinely, underscoring the need to take on the challenge head on. Passing the buck might be an easy option, an escape; putting our house in order is a must-have action to turn the tide though.
We notice the youth indulging in stunts and over speeding on motor cycles, throwing caution to the wind. The youth outwardly fear nothing — legal or illegal; right or wrong; good or bad and useful or harmful. Thus displaying indiscipline, these young people jeopardize their life; also of the people around. In the last few years, there has been a steep rise in road mishaps traced mainly to speeding and stunts; include rushed overtaking as well.
Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) has lost 8287 lives; one’s loved ones, to road accidents over the past five years. A report (2024) says that from January 01 to 30 June, 2,864 road accidents came to pass across many districts of J-K. 417 people — human beings –were killed; 3,894 wounded.
Online gambling and betting is rapidly gaining ground. This novel threat has far-reaching and devastating impact on the mental, emotional, physical and economic health of families. Debts mount, leading to bankruptcy in most cases while compromising the family’s welfare and honor. Depression and anxiety consume the youth and their families.
The online gambling depletes savings, triggering suicidal thoughts and actions in youths at times. Not long ago, social media reported that a man from Baramullah lost 42 lakh rupees to online gambling; another one about 32 lakh. A man’s body was fished out in Pakistan; he had jumped into the Chinab River at Akhnoor in June 2024 following the loss of 80,000 rupees to online gambling.
Worse, the online gambling is easy to carry on at home or on the go. Also the gambler can hardly be found out. One just needs a smartphone and the internet connection to navigate any website for so called get-rich -quick prospects.
Yet another major challenge confronting the society is the rampant abuse of drugs. There is no short cut to dissuade the youth from this epidemic. Many a youth has passed away through substance abuse. Add to it, the irreparable financial loss to their families. In several cases, a drug user has sold property, borrowed loans and even committed suicide after facing reverses in meeting the mounting expenses caused by the drug abuse.
Not to forget, the substance abuse brings about ceaseless emotional agony and disgrace to the family. So much so that the affected families, fearing social stigma, seek to sweep the tragedy under the carpet. Many engagements and marriages have broken up. Draining the family’s financial resources is inescapable.
In extreme cases, the youth bested by the addiction of online games and drug abuse drift away from studies and either end up as school drop outs or in jails. A big loss. Thus an urgent revisit of the educational, social and family background of the youth involved cannot be underestimated.
Without a doubt, educational institutions have a principal role in arresting the growth of online gambling and drug abuse. But, these institutions alone cannot uproot the rot. Mere sermons, speeches, seminars and debates fall short of the intended results; we cannot make an omelet unless we break an egg.
Rational community members cannot continue to lose sight of drug abuse and online gambling, two major issues threatening to push the entire humanity into the smithy of chaos and disharmony. Drug abuse leaves one feeling unattached to the community members. Equally important is to discourage unsafe and unlawful driving.
Most importantly, parents must step in with a cooperative spirit and help turn the tables before the point of no return obtains. Telling youth to put down phones does make sense. But is not enough for the young people are born and grown up in the environment wherein these devices do remain in their possession.
The situation can be turned around if media, religious leaders and the law apparatus work in tandem to take on the rising indiscipline drifting youth —seen as the present and future of society — away from contributing to the wellbeing of their families and the larger society . And contrary, the youth of today rise to the bait of online gambling, drug abuse and irrational driving. Thus ignorance and irrationality run the show— an irreparable loss on multiple counts.
Laws must apply strictly to tide over the aforesaid social threat affecting youths ruthlessly. A broad brush approach will be workable and apt. leaving the root causes of the youth indiscipline and defiance unaddressed will do anything but right the wrong.
Implementing the curricula to teach thoughtfulness, not just thoughts, at the educational institutions, is imperative: this will sensitize the present generation to show kindness to people and behave responsibly. Secondly, the government needs to strive for developing internship programmes so that the educated youth do not seek purposelessly the jobs that are nonexistent.
Lastly, we must understand that road accidents, drug abuse and online gambling menace — all are preventable provided we resolve to work together. To that effect, round- the- clock commitment backed by progressive perspective is paramount. Empathy for fellow humans is the key. So is mass awareness. Regardless of status, applying regulatory frameworks can tighten the noose without throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
(Author is RK Columnist and Teacher by Profession. Feedback: [email protected])
