A lot is said about the demographic dividend in South East Asian countries, especially India. A lot of growth is projected based on this young population that exists and that is going to exist in the decade to come. However, when I see the youth, especially the urban, learned youth, I'm afraid India might lose out on this amazing opportunity and the demographic dividend might become a population problem.
I have come to a conclusion that the urban youth of today has become lazy, impatient, demanding and indifferent.
The urban youth of today does not want to do any work himself/herself. He (Shall keep it to "he" but it is equally applicable to "she") would like to direct someone else to do the work for him. He considers himself to know-it-all even before getting hands on experience. Today's youth wants more money, wants annual (if not half-yearly) double-digit increment, more facilities, favorable working conditions, etc; yet his productivity is not even equal to that given by the older generation. Agreed that the older generation was not so highly educated, but being educated doesn't mean only demanding things. He should also show that the quality of his work and his productivity deserves the amount of resources demanded.
One person who joined a well-known investment banking firm started talking about the expected increment & bonus in the 1st month into work (Mind you, he was a fresher) & started making plans of his next job if the increment was not up to his expectations. I mean, he still didn't know which department he would be in, the work he would be doing; yet all that mattered was the level of bonus / increment to be earned, irrespective of the level of output given.
I myself consider me lazy. When I consider to the number of tasks done by my parents regularly even at this age, I feel ashamed and humbled by my inferiority.
The youth of today, especially the urban youth has become highly demanding. While it is good to demand and know what you want (Customer is king and all), being unreasonable in demands is what it has come to. An uneducated house servant was given a lot many tasks and when he missed out on one insignificant task, he was made to listen to loud lecture without even knowing the reason behind him not performing the task. Mind you that insignificant task was so simple to be done that the master could have done it in 2 mins without any major troubles. Yet, he didn't do it and gave a big 5 mins lecture to the servant instead.
The level of indifference in today's youth can be seen in any of the shopping malls of any urban/ suburban metro city. The way people communicate to the attendants in restaurants and shops says it all. Apathy is the word when I see a lot of people faking accents in the shopping malls in front of the shop attendants who have a tough time understanding them.
This is the behaviour I've been seeing lately in general in Mumbai among educated young people. I will not even comment on the time wasted by the youth in their places of work. That's a different story altogether. I also shall not say anything on cultural change, parental neglect, etc which I believe depends on youth's upbringing.
There are exceptions to all generalizations and thankfully there are quite a few people who are exceptions to the rule. Hope the youth of today gives up its laziness, indifference and starts to become more tolerant and starts working hard to make true the demographic dividend promise.
I have come to a conclusion that the urban youth of today has become lazy, impatient, demanding and indifferent.
The urban youth of today does not want to do any work himself/herself. He (Shall keep it to "he" but it is equally applicable to "she") would like to direct someone else to do the work for him. He considers himself to know-it-all even before getting hands on experience. Today's youth wants more money, wants annual (if not half-yearly) double-digit increment, more facilities, favorable working conditions, etc; yet his productivity is not even equal to that given by the older generation. Agreed that the older generation was not so highly educated, but being educated doesn't mean only demanding things. He should also show that the quality of his work and his productivity deserves the amount of resources demanded.
One person who joined a well-known investment banking firm started talking about the expected increment & bonus in the 1st month into work (Mind you, he was a fresher) & started making plans of his next job if the increment was not up to his expectations. I mean, he still didn't know which department he would be in, the work he would be doing; yet all that mattered was the level of bonus / increment to be earned, irrespective of the level of output given.
I myself consider me lazy. When I consider to the number of tasks done by my parents regularly even at this age, I feel ashamed and humbled by my inferiority.
The youth of today, especially the urban youth has become highly demanding. While it is good to demand and know what you want (Customer is king and all), being unreasonable in demands is what it has come to. An uneducated house servant was given a lot many tasks and when he missed out on one insignificant task, he was made to listen to loud lecture without even knowing the reason behind him not performing the task. Mind you that insignificant task was so simple to be done that the master could have done it in 2 mins without any major troubles. Yet, he didn't do it and gave a big 5 mins lecture to the servant instead.
The level of indifference in today's youth can be seen in any of the shopping malls of any urban/ suburban metro city. The way people communicate to the attendants in restaurants and shops says it all. Apathy is the word when I see a lot of people faking accents in the shopping malls in front of the shop attendants who have a tough time understanding them.
This is the behaviour I've been seeing lately in general in Mumbai among educated young people. I will not even comment on the time wasted by the youth in their places of work. That's a different story altogether. I also shall not say anything on cultural change, parental neglect, etc which I believe depends on youth's upbringing.
There are exceptions to all generalizations and thankfully there are quite a few people who are exceptions to the rule. Hope the youth of today gives up its laziness, indifference and starts to become more tolerant and starts working hard to make true the demographic dividend promise.
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