Young KeralaYoung Kerala

www.youngkerala.org

Disruptive thoughts

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

• Can we have an active state VC fund of more than Rs. 20 Crores corpus ?

• 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

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

• Eg:- Microsoft, Apple

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

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.

Kerala Youth sceneKerala Youth scene• Suppressed - No first generation leaders in the 30 – 45 age group.• In the last 2 weeks, 2 young men murdered their mothers. (examine

what lead to the event). • Ambalapuzha – teenagers rape and kill two female students.• 3 more teenagers found dead in a pond.• 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.

What lead to these…What lead to these…

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.

Fragile ego – function of low self esteem

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

focus on productivity• Culture refers to a set of shared attitudes,

values, goals and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group.

• Our culture has flaws that affects the state economic output.

Gross State Domestic Product

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Kerala Karnataka Tamil Nadu

$ Bi

llion

s

Cost of exclusion

Cost of not investing in the emotional wellbeing: $10b

• $ 4 bil is remittance• + $ 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

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

Entrepreneurial ecosystemEntrepreneurial ecosystem

• Availability of risk capital• Creating a risk taking team• Mentors, Finance Directors, Angels• Mindset against risk taking• Support systems – family, friends, non

family • Ostracisation upon failing

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 in Kerala.

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

• Discrimination based on age is illegal

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

• NRKs resident children (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

OutputOutput

• 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 Young Person

Positive S

ocial Econom

ic output

Self EsteemBreak Feudal traditions

Mentor and foster

Support Groups

Year 1Year 1

• Show Case Role models - Media Campaigns focusing on self esteem

of the youth. - Media Campaign to encourage alternate

careers (non mainstream professions)• Create a Support Group• Leverage Web 2.0 forums – blogs, video

messages.• Create an Advisory Board of high achievers.• Define core deliverables of Yk to Society.• Measure outcomes

Year 2Year 2

• Help lines

• More publicity, leaflets, pamphlets

• Monthly seminars

• Annual event and awards for the Youth Icon.

• Handhold 2 more chapters in North and South Kerala.

How you can help?

• Join the facebook group

• Volunteers for research and propagation

• Realize there is an issue and find solutions around it

• 4 pillars

Message

• Stay bold, take intelligent risks• Seek mentorship• Keep costs variable• Simple living, high thinking• Getting funding is not the end game• Focus on margins and relationships• Never ever confront• Remove failure from mind – Play to Win

Savari Kiri Kiri

rajesh.venugopal@youngkerala.org