Shillong, May 12: The two day National Youth Parliament – 2023 curtailed today at NEHU where over 150 students from 26 educational institutions across the country took part.
The second day of the event kickstarted with another debate session which was chaired by Smt. Abhilasha Mahapatra Basaiawmoit, Retired Indian Revenue Service, Commisioner Customs on the topic “Addressing Economic Polarisation in India: Causes, consequences and solutions.”
The session chair in her introductory speech mentioned how India has progressed as a growing economy with increasing GDP and recently as the most populous country (1.42 billion) overtaking China.
The speaker also highlighted that 60% of India’s population are in the age group of 25-60 years and stressed on the role of youths in economic developments thereby closing the gap between poor and rich.
The debaters from both sides of the motion in this session expressed that economic polarisation in India needs to be addressed as it causes income inequality, social disparity and rapid urbanization. Economic polarisation in India affects poor section of students in the society for pursuing higher education.
Indian economy is doing well as growing GDP indicates but also should focus on other social issues and problems. Further, India being socialist state, should maintain equal distribution of wealth for overall development.
Economic policies need to be reformed as different places have different geographical problems and it is important to recognise the role of individuals in economy of the country.
The second session was chaired by Prof. K. Debbarma, Dean, School of Social Sciences, NEHU on the topic “National Education Policy, 2020: A Game-Changer or a Missed Opportunity?” The session began with the treasury bench’s opening statement that the NEP 2020 aims for development and it lays down the guidelines for growth criticising the current education policy that has failed in recent years in providing jobs to the youth of the country and increasing frustration in the students.
The treasury bench reiterated that the proposed policy is indeed a game changer and substantiating their argument with many examples. Unsurprisingly, this led to wide spread spectrum of contrasting views from the opposition bench.
They talked about language disparity and the failure of the current government in acknowledging the ground root reality where many poor people don’t have access to internet or even basic amenities of live a decent life.
The Chairperson concluded the debate by keeping his speech neutral and highlighting both the pros and cons of the NEP, 2020 as pointed out by the speakers of both the benches- treasury and opposition.
He cited the need of professionally trained people to be able to train the students under new education policy. Merely assigning someone will not benefit the cause nor will it move in the desired direction.
In order to have a holistic development the proposal for National Assessment Centre is very crucial to increase the gross enrolment ratio for which the government is putting in its effort.
Prof. Debbarma pointed another important issue that is the internationalisation of education under the NEP – 2020 so to keep the students from going abroad and giving the students quality education which they often opt for in foreign universities and also to attract students from outside by best internationalising the curriculum and standard of the education.
The Last debate session was chaired by Shri. Naba Bhattacharrya, Chairman, State expert appraisal committee, Govt. Of Meghalaya. The topic of the session was “Wealthy nation must take proactive steps to combat climate change”. The session chair pointed out that climate change is considered a cliché in many countries.
Climate change is a reality. As we have also experienced in our own state Meghalaya itself. Sir had also recalled how the climate used to be in Shillong which is not the same anymore.
Bhattacharjee remarked that “climate change begins at home, and we all are equally responsible to combat this change in climate change. As also mentioned by one of the participants that “Action now will impact the future of the planet.”
