O J’s Corner

Call to youth

These days the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders are speaking common sense. CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has criticized trade union workers levying looking charges, without doing any work. His remarks have been welcomed by all. Wonders may not come about all on a sudden. The system may not cease forthwith. At least there is awareness that the workers have been behaving unruly. Kerala’s development has been in the doldrums mainly because of this problem. No sane industrialist would set foot in Kerala under the circumstances.

Now Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, speaking at a May Day rally, has cautioned against the youth becoming lazy. They are after quick money selling liquor, legal or illegal. Youth are not happy about doing manual work. They want to earn money by crooked means.

An honest overview of the situation prevailing in the State would drive the point home that a lot of people, particularly the youth, are engaged in brewing and selling illicit liquor. Go to any place, countryside or cityside, there are joints aplenty selling the illicit brew. Youth carry arrack packets in pants pockets and undergarments and are selling them, earning a quick buck.

Also, almost all places in the state are porous and conducive for illegitimate activities. House-breaks and burglaries are the order of the day. Many of the youth are hands-in-glove with anti-social elements. This would not take them to a bright future. Personal achievements and professional glory, which could have been materialized otherwise, are being denied by themselves on account of their undesirable habits.

Things are not rosy for our youth. Role models are lacking. Wherever they go, they witness activities of vested interests. There should be an intellectual reawakening.