Young KeralaYoung Kerala

www.youngkerala.org

Society & Movies

• Chithram • Thaniyavarthanom• Arabikatha • Kakkakuyil/Thalavattom • Chak De India

• Om Shanti Om

• Fashion • The Secret by Rhonda

Bryne

• Feudal traditions• Negative Society• NRKs Woes• Alcohol Abuse• Team motivation

• Aspiring Commoner

• Family Support/Self Confidence

• Power of a Positive mind

Disruptive thoughts

• Can we create the next original Resul, Tharoor, Google, Facebook from Kerala?

• Can we excel in athletics, sports?• Can we change media output?• Can we have a more mentors in non

artistic fields? • Can we have a 40 - 45 year old CM ?• Can we have a mass movement of young

people influencing policies

Disruption from Western WorldDisruption from Western World

• First generation garage entrepreneurs have given the world the most disruptive innovations.

• Eg:- Computing, Fibre Optics, Web 2.0• A Black American is US President

• Kerala is still a village economy

• Our brain is the only Asset and is misused as you can see in the next slides

Core issueCore issue

Negativity leads to fear of failing:

• Age group 15-30

• Lack of confidence, motivation for achievement• Peer and family pressure• Discrimination based on age

• No effective support system• State has not progressed with times

The negative societyThe negative societyYoungsters in the age group of 15-30,

• Fearful, Lack of self esteem, Unable to take risks, Fear of failing• Societal ostracisation/discriminated, Depressed and suicide prone• Alcohol consumption(3 times national average) to boost self

confidence? (ave age is 13.6)• ¼ th of the total production of psychotropic drugs are sold in Kerala.• State economic output is 1/3 rd of neighbors. • 83 days of production loss due to harthals (while sale of alcohol

went up)• Crime rate is 2 times national average.• 23% of women are beaten up by their men• Unemployment @ 30 pct• Highest road mishaps in the Country

A Suicidal State!A Suicidal State!

• About 28 persons die by suicide in Kerala every day.• The suicide stats are 3 times the national average & 2.5

times world average.• About 100 suicide attempts are made everyday - 25% of

them find realisation.• More males than females kill themselves - the ratio is

approximately 70:30.• 80% of those who die by suicide belong to the productive

age group of 15-59 years. • Family Suicides are taking place increasingly. In year

2006, as many as 29 incidents of family suicides took place.

• It only means that Keralites have 3 times lower self esteem compared to rest of India.

ThaniyavarthanomThaniyavarthanom• Balan Master ( Mammootty) is a teacher who lives in a tiny hamlet in Kerala.

• A serene life, two kids, wife, mother and a rebellious brother. A typical joint family, of Kerala.

• Balan Mash has a uncle who is mentally challenged.

• One night changes it all, Balan has a nightmare. People start suspecting Balan following the footsteps his uncle is mad.

• It started with a nightmare. Madness was considered hereditary in the family.

• Ever since the nightmare, Society evaluates each and every move of Balan. Word of mouth declares him as a lunatic in jest.

• His actions are misinterpreted. Later on his family sends him to the asylum.

• Qualified Doctor declares him as normal. But Society doesn't agree. Helpless, Balan plays mad.

Kerala Youth sceneKerala Youth scene• Suppressed - No first generation leaders in the 30 – 45 age group.• Sinxe Jan 2009, 3 young men killed their mothers, 1 killed his father.

• Ambalapuzha – teenagers rape and kill two female students.• Student commits suicide for being ostracised by teachers• Young MD of a finance company jailed for defrauding depositers.• Involved in communal violence, terror activities within and outside

the state.• Criminality is a function of individual socialization influenced by peer

groups..• Chasing financial success compromising fundamental values –

society values rich people.• There are support groups for negative activities!!• Migrate to Gulf, USA, Canada, UK – where does that leave the

State’s future leadership.

Suppressing Young PeopleSuppressing Young People

• Feudal norms• Matriarchal Society• Incorrect interpretation of scriptures• Addressing other people – Teacher, Mash• Failing is given • Criticism • Intimidation• Instilling fear in young minds beats down their self

esteem• Young people without self esteem are unproductive

What lead to these…What lead to these…Are we best at outcasting each other?

The current generation fails to discuss, what lead to these events..

• Suicide• Murder• Alcoholism• Crime• Violence and aggression• Running away from home

The current generation needs to measure their responses to the younger generation.

What is culture?What is culture?

• Culture refers to a set of shared attitudes, values, goals and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group.

• Age discrimination – Sir, Chetta, touching feet, standing up - respect in other cultures are mutual• This generation must take responsibility and

focus on productivity• Our culture has flaws that affects the state

economic output.

Social OutcastingSocial Outcasting

• Vivekananda’s remark in 1897

• Exodus to other religions

• Embracing a new faith has led many to prosperity

• Cultural baggage of over 200 years!

• Our movies often depict our Culture

Gross State Domestic Product

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Kerala Karnataka Tamil Nadu

$ B

illio

ns

Cost of exclusion

Cost of neglecting young people & their wellbeing is $10 billion

• $ 5 bil is remittance (quantify emotional cost of remitter and remittee)

• + $ 1 bil spent on alcohol • $ 4.5 bil lost productivity due to anti productivity

activities• $ 7.3 mil income lost due suicides/attempts• $ mil lost due to poor emotional well being• $ 0.6 bil lost due to unemployment

Feudal Kerala – negativity inbuiltFeudal Kerala – negativity inbuilt

• Unproductive activities around religion• Inequality and class system• Movies with confrontational dialogues• Infighting within leadership teams• Ambassador engine in Honda body• Media failed to pick up the positive side of

Rahul Gandhi’s speech at TVM• Stands in the way of productivity

Unhappy

Young Mind

Leads to low

Self Esteem

Negative Inputs

Negative social econom

ic output

Feudal normsabuse

Constant criticism

No emotional support

Brain D

rain/M

igratio

n

Suicides

Alcohol Abuse

Happiness drugsViolence & Terror

Lets understandLets understand

Young Mind

Input Output

Resul PookuttyResul Pookutty

• Lower middle class background• Determination and love for his profession• Alternate career

• Scale of success is always huge• Encouraged by an ecosystem outside Kerala• How do we create Pookutty’s in an internal

ecosystem.

• How do we eliminate fear of failure

EcosystemEcosystem

External• Chief Justice of India • Productive Ministers in Central Cabinet • Notable diplomats and bureaucrats • Shashi Tharoor, Rajeev Madhavan, G.A Menon, Yusufali, Wahab,

Mohammed Ali, TNC Menon, C.K. Menon, • 2 of Infosys Co founders and current CEO• Subex, Capt Krishnan Nair, Menon Pistons, KPP Nambiar• Resul Pookutty and other technicians

Internal• National award winners in the fields of arts• Technopark led to an Infopark and is still incubating more.• Notable firms in financial services, Jewellers

Political leadershipPolitical leadership

• Doesn’t encourage young leaders in 30 – 45 age group.

• Infighting among leadership teams for the last 10 years.

• Some leaders do well as Cabinet Ministers than within Kerala.

• The root issue is negativity

• How can a literate State be so negative?

Human rights and the YoungHuman rights and the Young

• Human rights are rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed under the Constitution

• These apply to the Young Person as well• Indian Constitution does not impose

respect for elders, it is an automatic outcome of elders inputs to the next generation

SolutionSolution

Invest in the wellbeing of youngsters:• Engage 15-24 years olds in – paid or unpaid

Jobs and training and skill development• Show case role models

• Foster a culture of benevolence and mentorship towards the young

• Positive effect on their well being• Enhanced emotional health and well being• Encourage non mainstream career options

Target GroupTarget Group

• Unemployed

• Educational underachievers

• Young offenders and ex offenders• Kids on the margin (children who do not

have parents at the first line of defense)

• The aspiring commoner

4 Pillars of Yk4 Pillars of Yk

1. Well being of Youth – Self esteem.

2. Break barriers in our feudal traditions

3. Mentor and foster a confident Young generation

4. Create an ecosystem for Young people to succeed within Kerala – Support groups

There is hopeThere is hope

• We are evolving as a State !

• Successful NRKs are investing time & money in Kerala

• Rise of Social Entrepreneurs – 1298, MAD

Output

• Youth with a better self image• Less crime and corruption• New generation of fearless leaders• Enhanced state economic output• Creation of opportunities within the State• Fewer people leaving the State• Fewer suicides• Fewer derelicts

Happy & Confident

Young Person

Positive S

ocial Econom

ic outputP

ositive Social E

conomic output

Self EsteemBreak Feudal traditions

Mentor and foster

Support Groups

Fearle

ss le

ader

Productivity

Innovation & Risk TakerBenevolent Society

Enne Kalleriyalle….

What we do

• Facebook Group Young Kerala.

• Platform to share views and out of the box ideas.

• Facilitate NRK mentors with mentees

Why NRK mentors

• Lack of depth in the local community pool

• Flat world friendly - Facebook

• Time and benevolence• Non Compete or vested interest

• Non investment advice