INTEGRATING RURAL AND URBAN YOUTH

There is no denying that there exists a huge divide between the urban and the rural youth. While the urban youth might even be oblivious of rural India, India's villagers look forward to tasting some of the opportunities Generation Next takes for granted. One such opportunity was a rafting and kayaking competition organized by TSAF. For once both groups of youngsters were compelled to join hands, forge relationships and achieve a predetermined objective.

The competition was designed to stretch them physically, mentally and emotionally, to integrate them, and to give them an opportunity to test their skills. A record 31 teams entered this competition, with a total of 213 young men and women jumping into the fray.

The competition yielded many spirited performance, with the rural and urban youth bagging an equal number of prizes. The boy's events for both rafting and kayaking were won by the rural youth, while the girl's events were won by Women's Adventure Club of Jamshedpur.

There was however, a remarkable difference between youth from the rural areas and those from urban townships. The instructor and the chief guest at the competition, Mr. Anirudh Banerjee, Chief, SAP Task Force, Tata Steel, observed that the village youth were more understanding, patient and had the power to adjust quickly in a demanding and unfamiliar environment. Their urban counterpart showed signs of being impatient and unable to adjust to a change in routine, even as small a matter as a delay in lunch time, caused due to the sudden increase in the number of participants.

The instructors realized that perhaps this was how each of the youngsters could learn his strengths and weaknesses. If it is true that, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going." Then the urban Indian has a lot to learn, if they have to survive. Or maybe, this is when we realize that our rural brethren never worry about hunger, if they know an end is in sight. They have learnt the hard way to be patient and wait for their turn to come. A learning one could never have imagined to get from a fun-filled adventure programme.