Times of India has recently launched a program to attract young people of age group 18 to 24 to participate in various movements to perform tasks of critical social importance within their locality or city where they are residing. Those tasks could be as various as safety, cleanliness, education and environment. The method of working expected shall be such that first they understand the problem properly and then to visualize its solution. After they have found a solution to the problem at hand they shall garner support for the cause by creating awareness for the problem amongst other people concerned with the issue and finally endeavor to implement the solution they have in their mind for the problem.

Conveners of this concept are very much sure that what they have conceptualized will actually come in reality and that shall help resolve many issues those pester our society. The report says that, as the TOI introduced this concept for participation of youth, a few days back, in this activity, they received almost overwhelming response from the age group they have targeted.

Generally people of this age group have some bright qualities such as determination, hard work, talent, conviction and commitment and with these qualities they are expected to achieve the goal earmarked to them by “I Lead India”. Times of India expects that out of this group we shall create tomorrows leadership who will take the country to heights of prosperity and wellbeing.

To begin with, TOI have a unique arrangement to collect these talented youth from the enthusiasts. TOI’s clarion call to expected youth, those who shall respond will commit to be courageous, hardworking, eager to do something for the country. Such youth are expected to contact TOI by June 15 online. first all applications will be scrutinized and those approved will be called for the interview.

TOI have said that they have been receiving applications in thousands and that is a good sign to begin with. They say a rigorous selection process will begin after the applications are collected and they expect to finish that primary task of selecting the right candidates within at least two full months.

At phase two, all selected candidates will be put to a psychometric test online to examine self motivation, social consciousness, dedication to the cause and more such qualities. In the phase three, from each city at least 50 candidates will be selected to go through actual trials of role-play and group exercise to test their leadership aptitude, group behavior, creativity on the problem etc.

In forth phase, 15 members from the selected group from each city shall compete at debates held in colleges they are studying. Viewers shall vote for them and along with that each one will face a personal interview. After such a rigorous work out extended to about three to four months, finally in fifth phase, five candidates will be selected from each city to prepare an elite group of highly motivated youth brigade.

Each brigade of five shall work in 26 cities of India. They will be given 3 months to perform tasks of critical social importance to the city. They may comprise of, as mentioned in the beginning, safety, cleanliness, education and environment etc.

Prima-facie it all looks very cozy. But as we go into the careful study of the many under currents those are likely to be influencing the whole operation of this youth brigade we see many loopholes in the entire arrangement.

First of all, the tests mentioned have many options and question comes up about who set the psychometric tests. Definitions of social consciousness is a very large subject. There is no mention of any senior level guidance to these youths, there in the entire arrangement of this program. If we expect these young enthusiasts to do all by their own interpretation of social problems we are sure to come with many problems not because they are young but because they are not experienced of life. As for elucidation of various issues we always see three types of them. To put it as per our Hindu theology they are called Satwa, Rajas and Tamas; each of this gives solution to our problems. That means, we always have three possible solutions to our problems. Now the question is, which of these will be accepted and why? Today we have many problems remaining in bad position primarily because our present leadership is mostly made up of Tamasi people with a few of Rajas and hardly anybody from Satwa quality. This absolute absence of Satwa quality in our political fraternity is the main stumbling block that is keeping everything in chaos.

Somebody tells that as per democracy people choose the government and other local governing bodies and the type of, they choose are the type to which people belong. Since, our people are mostly Tamasi so are the people in the government. That means, all things will always remain in chaos. To remedy that Satwic persons should forcibly push themselves on the governing bodies and begin to influence them. Corruption that encompasses our all systems is because we have Tamasi people to man all matters everywhere. So long as we do not improve quality of people or if that is not possible, unless truly Satwic individual begin to control government, any arrangement we bring however, meticulously designed will not be able to do much to improve the situation. If we are going to have Tamasi or Rajasi temperament youth in the brigade only because the conveners are of that type. Let me warn here that, selection of the final brigade will be of the type conveners are and not any better. we will be creating new problems and not solve existing one. What it means is very clear; first the conveners be tested for their intrinsic quality and see to that they are Satwic. If that is possible then and only then, we may feel assured that this “I Lead India” brigade is of any benefit to us. Otherwise, TOI is going to create yet another complication, more corruption and more problems. I feel TOI takes for granted that conveners are all perfect, but what guarantee of that?

Last question I have, to conclude this study, are these youths going to be paid or expect them to work for free?

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