Kathmandu, March 15: At a time when the traditional political parties are reviewing their poor performance in the March 5 House of Representatives election held in the background of the September uprising, a study report released by the Finance Ministry argued that the Gen Z movement was a revolt against corruption, mis-governance and unemployment.
The report titled ‘Understanding Gen Z movement: Major Causes, Reality and Roadmap for Robust Nepal’ was prepared by the Central Department of Economics, TU.
The study report described the Gen Z movement not as an impulsive response but a deep seated disenchantment towards the system that fueled corruption, unemployment, social injustice and institutional erosion. The movement has been regarded as collective and structural responses to such ills.
It further explained the generation accustomed to digital atmosphere, transparency expected by the educated and aware Gen Z youths, and urgency of justice, opportunity and accountability in democratic system. However, as they failed to see their expectation realized, it burst into the rebellion, causing the Sept 8-9 uprising, the report concluded.
In order to assuage youths’ plight and disenchantment and resolve national problems, the study suggests institutional reform, merit-based administration, compulsory digital governance, timely execution of policy, quality job creation, linking education and skills to market, protection of digital rights, youth participation and engagement in policy formulation and revival of youths’ trust in system. These would further pave way for social stability, sustainable democracy and economic development, it stressed.
Other factors triggering the movement, as the study, mentioned are: decline of public trust in political leadership, restriction on digital freedoms, luxurious lifestyle of political leadership and their relatives, limited persons’ access to State services, lack of job-ensuring education, shortage of job as per qualification, and gross nepotism in political appo0intment. The insufficient mainstreaming of marginalized community is equally vital to cause the movement.
Acute shortage of jobs led youths to leave country while distancing education and labour market, limited atmosphere for entrepreneurship and income inequality, government services full of hassles are other causes behind the uprising. The political appointment in the anti-corruption body made the appointees accountable to political leadership rather than to the people and system. The digital rights have been regarded as the fundamental rights by the youths, the study divulged.
However, the study report mentioned that the movement created economic instability and negative impacts on private sector’s investment. It has further resulted in declining morale to the investors. The arson, vandalism and looting perpetrated during the protest took a heavy toll on national property: some Rs 84.45 billion worth property perished in the scourge.
The study also stated that some positive results of the movement such as rising political awareness among youths and accountability on rise in bureaucracy, institutional pressure against corruption and political leadership.
The study strongly suggested the policy effective at least for five years while reform in education, incorporation of moral education up to secondary level in school, clean politics, reduced inequality, mainstreaming of marginalized community and intensification of reconstruction drive.
The report was prepared by conducting a survey where nearly 98 percent respondents had achieved secondary and above education. They belonged to 16-25 year age group.
