A Research on Status of Rural Youth in
Nepal and their Mainstreaming in Decision Making Process
Researcher- Arun Khadka
1.
Problem Statement
This research is guided by the following
research questions:
— What is the demographic dimension of rural youth?
— What is the condition of youth in education,
occupation, employment and income sector?
— What is the status of youth in household
decision-making at household, social and political area?
— What are the causes and consequences of exclusion of
youth from participation and mainstreaming?
— What are their perception and idea on social, economic
and political issues of country related to youth?
— What are the opinions of youth regarding the National
Youth Policy to fulfill their needs?
— How can be youth empowered and mainstream in decision
making process?
2. Objective
The general
objective of this study is to find out the status of rural youth. The following
are the specific objective of the study:
— To identify the level of education, skill and
experience of youth and its contribution in employment.
— To analyze the patterns of participation in decision
making process at households, community and political affairs.
— To examine the relation between quality of life and
meaningful participation for mainstreaming of youth in decision making process.
— To identify the differentiation between the need and
status of rural youth with National Youth Policy & programs.
— To explore the perception and idea of youth in social,
economic and political setting related to youth.
3.
Research Methodology
For the primary data collection total 540
in-depth personal interviews will be conducted. Well-designed door to door
survey will be conduct to acquire detailed information. The data will be
collected from following techniques:
·
Household Survey (HS): A semi-structured questionnaire for household survey
will be prepared. It will use to elicit demographic and socio-economic
information from the respondents. Moreover, this will also extract the
information about the response and perception of respondents on policy and
programs on youth. Altogether 540 survey will be taken from six VDCs of Sunsari
District.
·
Special Group Interview: Along with the HS, unstructured interview will
carried out at least with three youth in each VDCs to come up with the
information about the socio-economic status and perception on social, economic
and political environment for rural youth in Nepal. This interview will be
carried out with the youth from special group[1]:
disable, HIV infected, third gender, trafficked youth, youth involve in sex
business, conflict victim, victim of any kind of violence. This will facilitate
to bring out the qualitative information which could not cover by HS. 18
interview, three from each VDC.
·
Survey of Organization: Membership profile of the members of executive
committee of formal and information social, economic and political institution
will be taken at ward, VDC and district level. 300 organization profile, 50
from each VDCs.
·
Focus Group Discussion: FGDs will organize among the youth from diverse
sectors in community, district and national level. A checklist for the focus
group discussion will be prepared and used. six in VDC level, three in District
level and two in National level.
· Key
Informants Interview: In addition to
other techniques of data collection, KII will carried out with youth concern
persons from government agencies, national and international NGOs, youth rights
expert and activist, journalist, civil society, youth political leader, teacher
and lectures, etc from village, district and national level. 5 from VDC level,
5 from district level and 10 from national lelvel.
· Case Study: Case study of some HS participants will be prepared
by taking interview about their life story including their feelings and
aspiration. 18 case, three from each VDC.
4.
Conceptual Framework for the Analysis of Mainstreaming
of Rural Youth in Decision Making Process: Mainstreaming of rural youth
in decision making process is dependent variable which depends on independent
variables; Equality & equity among youth groups, quality of life and
meaningful participation.
Summary
of the findings
Socio-economic characteristics of
the household population
·
Of the total 1018
household population from 180 household, 547 were male and 471 were female
population. The majority of the population was found in age group 15-19 years
(15.71%) and lowest in age group of 70 and more (1.69%).
·
It was found 72.37
percent economically active populations i.e. age group 15-59 years.
·
Out of the household
population age 10 year and above, 60.96 percent were married. Marrital status
of female (67.08%) is higher than male (55.92%).
·
Out of total household
population, 80.92 percent were literate. Females’ educational attainment was
low in higher level education while males’ was high.
·
Tradition agriculture
is major occupation of majority of household members.
Demographic characteristics of the
respondents
·
In the sampled population
of 180, 28.9 percent respondents were found in age group 16-20 years, where
26.7 percent respondents were in age group 21-25 years. Others 15% were of the
age group 26-30, 16.1% of 31-35 and 13.3% of 36-40.
· There
are 52.8 percent are male and 47.2 percent are female respondent.
·
Out of 180
respondents, 54.4 percent respondents were married and 45.6 percent were
unmarried. It was observed that more than half of the respondents (53.06%) had
got marriage at the age 16-20 years. Among the female, 58.33 percent had got
marriage within the age group of 16-20. Proportion of female to get marriage in
the age group of 16-20 is larger than male. Average age of marriage is 19.22
years.
·
The majority of the
respondents were from Madhesi pichada barga (27.2%) and followed by Madhesi
adhibasi/janajati (21.7%) caste groups. Other caste groups were Madhesi dalit
(15%), Hilly adhibasi/janajati (13.3), Alpa sankhek (11.1%), Hill
Brahmin/chhetri (9.4%) and Hill Dalits (2.2%) (Table 5.2.1).
Determinants
of quality life of the respondents
· Majority of the respondent had got the formal education. Among the 180 respondent 16.11 percent were
illiterate and 83.89 percent were literate in any of the way. Where 6.11
percent respondents were literate in informal way and 77.78 percent were
attended formal educational institute. Among the female 23.53 percent are in
plus two level but on the other hand 20 percent are illiterate.
·
Higher number of male cross the SLC
(27.66%) and left the formal education among the male respondent. Where 22.22
percent of female left after plus two and same number after test pass. Major
reason for leaving formal education is marriage for female and followed by
support family and support family for male and followed by foreign employment.
Average age of leaving study in formal institute is 18.3 years.
· Majority of respondent have taken the one or more
vacation training in their life where number of male (62.11%) is higher than
female (50.59) within their respective gender. Maximum number of respondent are
interested for computer (33%) training and followed by sewing & tailoring
(22%). Male are mostly interest to get training of computer, agricultural &
husbandry, driving and mechanical. Where, female are interested on computer,
sewing & tailoring, cooking, beauty parlor and agricultural &
husbandry.
· Most of the respondent involve in any kind of occupation
whether it is paid, unpaid or self employ. Among the employ, 43.77 percent respondents are self employ,
35.03 percent are paid employ and 17.2 percent are unpaid employ. Number of
male is larger in paid job then female. Proportion of female to involve in
traditional agricultural, agricultural labor and domestic work is higher where
male to involve in modern agricultural, wage labor, job in private sector, government
job and foreign labor migration higher then female. Average age of 1st income
or control in production is 21 years for all and 21.5 years among the educated
youth.
· Most of the youth visit government
health center in rural community. There
is SRH problem related to early child bearing is in immense situation.
Respondent state about lack of sufficient treatment of problem related to SRH
and Lack of awareness about SRH are also the considerable issues. More than two
third of respondent have knowledge about SRH. Among them more than 50% have
enough and can teach others too.
Participation in decision making
process
·
In the different organization of research area more than 50
percent members are from youth age group define by NYP. Involvement of youth below
the 30 years age is very limited to involve in organizations.
·
Larger number of respondent involve among different types of
organization is economic organization (24.44%) and followed by social
organization (23.33%) and then user groups (20%). Very limited number of
respondent involve in political party (8.33%), management committee (4.44%),
professional group (3.33%) and cultural/ethnic group (3.33%). Respondent involve in executive
committee of organization in economic organization and social organization is
16.67 percent, where in user group is limited to 1.67 percent.
·
Out of 180 respondent 164 response on this question. 56.7 percent of
respondent said that 16-40 age bracket for youth in Nepal is neither applicable
nor inapplicable. Where as 22 percentage said inapplicable and 15.2 percent
applicable. 45.1 percent of respondent said the
minimum age bracket of youth should be 16 years. 46.8 percent of respondent
said that maximum age bracket for youth should be 35 years where 30.1 percent
said for 40 years and 18.5 percent for 30 years.
Conclusions
This study has focused on
examining the social exclusion of rural youth. This study concludes that status
of rural youth poor but in improving situation. Education attainment of rural
youth is increasing. Even the considerable numbers of young female are crossing
the school level. But, they have to leave the study not completing the desire
level. Mostly, to support family due to economic condition and then due to
marriage for female and for foreign labor migration for male.
Most of the respondent involved in
different occupation. Trend of modern agriculture, entrepreneurial trade and
business is increasing. On the other hand, still there is huge number of rural
youth are involved in traditional agriculture. Female youth engage in domestic
work which is considered as unproductive. Trend and desire to upgrade by
different skill and training is increasing. But, most of them were in using
which they learn in past.
Average age for income generation
or control in production is 21 years which is three years greater than the age
to be engaged full time in any occupation. On the other hand, gap between
neither in school/college nor in any production oriented work is more than
three years. It leads youth in different non social activities and crime rather
than productive engagement.
Rural youth are gradually leaving
the tradition method of treatment and to visit dhami/jhakri. Instead, they use
to visit government health center which is only one option for most of the
rural youth. Responded stated to not getting enough treatment from these
centers. Problem related to early child bearing is enormous among the rural
female youth.
Significant numbers of rural youth
are participated in socially and economically active community based
organization. Their participation in political organization and government
service related committees is very low.
Awareness and knowledge about the
National Youth Policy and youth program is limit to few youth. Huge numbers of
rural youth unaware about Youth Policy. They are searching for institute to
guide them for employment promotion. They are eager for meaningful participation
I youth and community affairs. So, they are expecting Village Youth Council I
near Future, the body will formed among youth provisioned in NYP.
[1]
For this study special
group is taken from the some of the youth group with distinct identity define
by National Youth Policy as ''priority group'' and ''special priority group''.
YDC doing a research on ''Status of Rural Youth in Nepal and their Mainstreaming in Decision Making Process''. Primarily, this research is for thesis for Master Degree, TU. In broader, this research will bring the relevant and exiting information about the youth of Nepal.
Already, some of the organization, expert, youth leaders are waiting for reports (outcome) of this research for their use.
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