The student community has a very important role to play in the progress of the country. The students are at an age when they are young, filled with new ideas and the enthusiasm and verve to bring these to fruition. It is, therefore, necessary that they receive the right kind of education and guidance and are involved in the developmental programmes of the country so as to utilize their immense potential to the maximum degree.
The primary need of the hour is that students first of all discharge their duties conscientiously. They should have a goal in view and work seriously to achieve it. They should concentrate on their studies and take their examinations honestly and stop using dishonest means to pass examinations.
Further, they should discipline themselves and be able to distinguish right from wrong. This would enable them to keep away from the misguidance of politicians and people with vested interests. This would also prevent their involvement in demonstrations, strikes, and other such unlawful and wasteful activities.
The educational institutions should give students opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities, sports and hold inter-class and inter-school competitions in order to develop their talents and the spirit of sportmanship. This would also enable them to occupy themselves usefully in their leisure hours.
Again, the education imparted to students should be job-oriented, so that they are able to decide their goal in life and work purposefully to achieve it. Right from the school level, students should be taught practical skills such as carpentry, motor-mechanics, computers, dramatics and so on.
Yet again, the students should also be given military training, first-aid etc. so that if the need arises they can contributr their might also in defending the country. There are many countries which have made military training compulsory for each and every citizen. India should also come forward and implement such a rule atleast for the students of schools, colleges and universities.
Students should also be involved in developmental programmes. It is again the responsibility of the educational institutions to keep an active contact with social welfare organisations and chart out programmes for students to engage in welfare activities. For instance, they can be sent to villages to hold adult literacy classes. They can teach the village women elementary sewing and knitting so that these poor people are able to fend for themselves in as many spheres of life as possible.
Yet again, villagers can be taught the basics of hygiene, the usefulness of living in clear surroundings and sanitary conditions. Regular work in the villages would help the students know the other problems of these backward people, and they would be able to help them tackle these problems also. Thus, educational institutions have a major role to play to involve students in constructive activities that are beneficial for the country.
Our country is passing through difficult times in the political and social arena. Communal tensions are erupting every now and then. Here too, it is the youngsters who can help to control the situation. Instead of participating in riots, if students would only get together and spread the message of goodwill and harmony, tensions would diffuse sooner and violence be put to an end.
Thus, the role of students in the progress of the country is a very crucial one if the country is to develop and make swifter strides towards progress. If students conscientiously fulfil their role for the development of the country, would lead to progress and prosperity. Only by engaging in constructive activities they would be able to give a fitting reply to the words of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose who declared, “Ask not what your country has done for you, but say what you have done for the country”.
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