July 6, 2026: The National Federation of Youth Movements (NFYM) on Saturday organised a Yuva Samvad at the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC), Jaipur, bringing together students, youth leaders, social activists, lawyers, teachers, senior journalists, and representatives of youth and student organisations to deliberate on the growing challenges confronting young people in Rajasthan, with a special focus on employment, education, skill development, and livelihood opportunities.
The Yuva Samvad was designed as an interactive and participatory platform that moved beyond the conventional format of one-way speeches. Students, youth, journalists, subject experts, and grassroots participants actively engaged in discussions, asked questions, shared their experiences, and exchanged ideas to collectively explore solutions to the challenges faced by young people. The programme was not limited to discussions on pressing youth-related issues; it also focused on identifying policy reforms and developing a roadmap for addressing them.
Delivering the welcome address, Masihuzzama Ansari, Chairman of NFYM, said the organisation’s primary objective is to raise issues concerning students and youth through an academic, evidence-based, and fact-driven approach while utilising all democratic means available to work towards meaningful and sustainable solutions. He said unemployment has emerged as one of the most pressing concerns for the youth of Rajasthan and requires sustained policy attention. He emphasised the need to create platforms where young people can directly articulate their concerns and contribute to policy discussions that shape their future.
The programme featured participation from several eminent personalities, including Navin Narayan, Upendra Shankar, Hemant Mohanpuriya, Pawan Dev, Raman Yadav, Shoeb Shan, Kamal Ji, Mohammad Moin, Mosoof Ahmed, Anwer Kathat, Shuaib Shaan, and Dr. Raheem Khan, who shared their perspectives on youth empowerment, employment, education, and skill development.
Young people and students from various colleges and universities also participated in the Yuva Samvad, where they discussed the key issues and challenges facing students and youth in Rajasthan, particularly those related to employment, education, and skill development.
During the interactive dialogue, participants highlighted a range of issues affecting the youth, including rising unemployment, delays in recruitment processes, limited employment opportunities, the need for quality skill development, career guidance, entrepreneurship support, and greater youth participation in policymaking. Students and youth representatives also shared their experiences and offered suggestions for addressing these challenges.
The session also highlighted the concerns of Rajasthan’s nomadic communities, particularly the challenges faced by their youth. Navin Narayan presented a historical overview of the impact of the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 and its eventual repeal by the Government of India in 1952. He explained how the legacy of the colonial law continues to affect these communities, resulting in discrimination, poverty, social exclusion, and inadequate access to citizenship rights and public welfare.
Dipesh, Rakesh, and Hemant presented an in-depth analysis of the educational, economic, and social conditions of communities such as the Mirasi, Banjara, Kanjar, and Kalbelia. Their presentations generated significant engagement, with participants raising questions and expressing deep concern about the issues confronting these historically marginalised communities.
Speaking on the occasion, Anwar Kathat of the Rajasthan Youth Forum welcomed the initiative and said that such programmes are essential for understanding the real issues faced by young people. He emphasised that similar dialogues should be organised regularly to identify practical solutions and strengthen youth participation in policymaking.
Representing SIO, Shuaib Shaan highlighted the various challenges currently faced by students and stressed the need for concrete policy measures to address them effectively.
Mosoof Ahmed, a youth social activist from Rajasthan, said that the programme had created a meaningful platform for discussing the concerns of young people across the state. He noted that such initiatives would help cultivate a stronger culture of dialogue, participation, and democratic engagement among the youth of Rajasthan.
NFYM stated that the recommendations and data gathered during the consultation will be compiled into a comprehensive report on the status of youth in Rajasthan. The report will assess key employment-related challenges, identify policy gaps, and present evidence-based recommendations aimed at improving job opportunities, strengthening skill development, and enhancing youth welfare.
Concluding the programme, Masihuzzama Ansari announced that NFYM will soon release the Rajasthan Youth Employment Report, focusing on employment, skill development, and other critical issues affecting young people in the state. He said the organisation will also prepare a Charter of Demands based on consultations with youth, experts, and civil society stakeholders.
“The report will present the ground realities faced by the youth and outline practical policy recommendations. NFYM will submit the Charter of Demands to the concerned authorities and engage with the government to advocate for timely recruitment, expanded employment opportunities, stronger skill development initiatives, and effective implementation of youth-centric policies,” he said.
Issued by:
Syed Ahmed Ali
National Secretary, NFYM
