The final pillar of our framework is also its most strategic: establishing structured youth-industry forums where young people contribute to discussions on the future workforce, technology, employment, and sectoral development.
The Governance Gap
India’s policy and industry planning processes have been traditionally dominated by senior professionals. This is understandable—they have experience, knowledge, and networks. But it is also limiting. The policies and plans developed today will shape the world that young people will inherit. Yet, young people have little say in their development.
This governance gap has consequences. Policies fail to anticipate emerging trends. Plans miss the perspectives that only youth can provide. The result is a planning process that is slow, reactive, and often irrelevant to the needs of the younger generation.
Forums That Matter
The solution is a network of youth-industry forums at multiple levels:
- National Level: A National Youth-Industry Council, perhaps under the Ministry of Youth Affairs or the NITI Aayog, with representation from youth organizations, industry associations, and government.
- Sectoral Level: For each sector—tourism, manufacturing, technology, agriculture, etc.—a youth-industry committee that contributes to sectoral planning.
- State Level: Youth-industry forums in each state, addressing state-specific issues and opportunities.
- Organizational Level: Within individual companies, youth advisory councils or equivalents that provide input to strategy and operations.
Mandate and Functions
What should these forums do?
- Policy Input: Provide recommendations on policies affecting youth employment, skills, and entrepreneurship.
- Trend Analysis: Identify emerging trends—technology, consumer behavior, social change—that industry and policy must address.
- Program Design: Contribute to the design of programs for youth development: skills training, entrepreneurship support, employment initiatives.
- Accountability: Monitor and report on the implementation of youth-focused policies and programs, holding institutions accountable.
