fig.1 respondents by age group
TRANSCRIPT
VOICE OF INDIAN YOUTH (An analysis of the online survey)
During the last week of May 2021, Vigyan Setu Foundation conducted an online survey to
listen to the Voice of Indian Youth. The ongoing pandemic crisis and the resultant effect on
the youth were to be heard, analysed, and understood. Through the questionnaire, four key
areas were explored; education and employment, social and health security, mental well-
being, and governmental initiatives. Based on the questions asked during online survey and
the overwhelming pan-India participation, here is an analysis of the responses received.
Demographics:
Questions asked included about gender, age-group, and the place of residence of the
respondents
The sample age bracket of 15-35 years was selected because this age group is likely to face
differentiated challenges in the context of the lockdown imposed to contain ongoing
pandemic. The education and employment implications of the COVID-19 crisis and the
individual responses to it are of interest for this study. This age group, especially those at
the higher end, are facing a second major economic crisis, since they are at the beginning of
their careers. Figure 1 illustrates the respondents by age group.
The survey was administered online and promoted and shared primarily through social
media platforms among the youth from the age group of 15 - 35 years. The gender
distribution of respondents is as shown in the Figure 2.
54.9%31.5%
4.3%9.3%
Fig.1 Respondents by age group
15-20 years
21-25 years
26-30 years
31-35 years
Figure 3 displays the respondent by their place of residence. Roughly half of the
respondents are from the urban settings, followed by smaller towns, rural, and a small
portion from the metropolitan area.
45.7%
53.7%
0.6%
Fig. 2 Respondents by gender
Male
Female
Prefer not to say
22.8%
19.8%48.8%
8.6%
Fig. 3 Respondents by residence
Village
Town
City
Metroplois
Education and employment: Questions explored their engagement, support and provisions made by the
institutions for the students and those employed, and the impact on employment
A major portion of the survey respondents are students followed by those employed, and a
small portion is student-cum-employed. The distribution of respondents with respect to
their engagement is as shown in Figure 4.
Of all the employed respondents, Figure 5 shows the type of employability based on the
time period (part-time or full-time) of their engagement. Those working part-time,
majority of them are working from home, while most of those engaged in full-time
employment are to go to their workplace.
80.2%
6.2%
13.6%
Fig. 4 Respondents by engagement
Student
Student and employed
Employed (including self-employed)
27.8%
8.3%
25%
38.9%
Fig. 5 Respondents by type of employability
Part-time (work fromhome)
Part-time (go toworkplace)
Full-time (work fromhome)
Full-time (go toworkplace)
Lockdowns everywhere have changed how education and learning need to be approached.
In this context, teachers and students are facing a number of challenges including student
health and well-being, the continuity of learning and teaching, equality, accessibility and
connectivity, student engagement, and the lack of preparedness and capacity of teachers.
Under such situation, the response to whether educational institutions provide facilities for
education to continue is depicted in Figure 6.
Apart from providing facilities for education to continue, it is also of significance, whether
these educational institutions are extending support, and if yes, then to what extent? Figure
7 shows how far educational institutions had been supportive to the student respondents
during the lockdown and beyond.
93.1%
6.9%
Fig. 6 Provision for education to continue
Yes
No
44.22%
47.62%
8.16%
Fig. 7 Support extended by instituitions
Very supportive
Supportive
Unsupportive
Similarly, the challenges faced by employers and employees alike are unprecedented, but
some employers have been better at meeting the needs of their employees during this
uncertain time. Majority of the employed respondents feel that they are getting adequate
support from their employer during the lockdown. This is being shown in Figure 8.
The lockdown in India closed businesses, offices, transportation, and confined people to
their homes. Only essential workers and industries were permitted to continue operations
under the lockdown. Across the world, the disruptions caused by confinement measures
have led to substantial impacts on both employed and self-employed sector. The impact of
the lockdown situation owing to the pandemic is represented in the Figure 9.
81.25%
18.75%
Fig. 8 Support extended by the employer
Yes
No
20.51%
7.69%
5.13%48.72%
17.95%
Fig. 9 Impact on the employment
Lost my job / self-business
Compelled to take unpaidleave
Compelled to take paidleave
My job / self-employmentcontinues as it has been
My job / self-employmentcontinues with reducedsalary / income
Social and health security:
Questions explored the availability of health insurance and accessibility to medical
facilities
Health insurance is of great significance in such critical times, when loss of employment
causing economic losses add health care burden on an individual. In light of the fact, that
during widespread job loss in India, many people are at risk of losing their health coverage,
the status of health insurance of the respondents is as shown in the Figure 10. Still, the
health of roughly one-third of the respondents is not insured.
Global supply chains have been disrupted as firms, travel, trade and borders have closed
around the world, and countries have real concerns about shortages in necessities such as
medicines, food staples, and PPE. The respondents’ reaction to their accessibility to medical
care facilities during the lockdown is best depicted in the Figure 11.
14.90%
51.06%
34.04%
Fig. 10 Employment and Insurance
By the employer
Self
No insurance done eitherby employer or self
46.9%
32.7%
20.4%
Fig.11 Accessibility of medical facilities
Yes, fully accessible
Yes, but quite limited
Not accessible
Mental well-being:
Questions explored the impact on mental health and well-being, avenues of keeping
oneself busy during lockdown, feeling loneliness, and the biggest worries and
challenges thought of
Indeed, it is very pertinent that during any emergency situation or crisis, where and with
whom an individual is staying. Looking at the present scenario, respondents felt safer,
physically secured, since majority of them were with their family members. Distribution of
their lodgings is as shown in the Figure 12.
Though the respondents felt physically safe and secure being at home but whether there is
an impact on their mental well-being, is seen in the Figure 13.
4.9%
91.4%
0%3.7%
Fig. 12 Lodging during the lockdown
Alone
With family members
With room-mates inhostelWith extended family
45.7%
26.5%
27.8%
Fig. 13 Impact on mental well-being
Yes
No
Maybe, not sure
The survey asked respondents what activities they have been doing during the lockdown.
Figure 14, best describes their engagements during the period of lockdown.
Young people are at a higher risk of suffering from the psychological and emotional stress
of the outbreak. Being separated from friends, colleagues and normal everyday activities
has left many young people feeling lonely. Figure 15 shows the different levels of loneliness
felt by the respondents.
Due to ongoing pandemic crisis, physical, mental, economic, and even on social front, the
youth experienced tremendous disturbance. More and more worries begin to surface as
challenges in front of them, with every day passing by.
56.20%
30.90%
5.60%
58.60%
55.60%
60.50%
14.80%
34.60%
1.20%
21.60%
Acquiring new skills / hobbies
Chatting with old time buddies
Doing online business
Taking online courses / studying…
Passive activities (listening mus…
Talking to family and friends
Exploring more opportunities to…
Taking care of health by exercisi…
Partying quite often
Others
Fig. 14 Keeping busy during lockdown
12.3%
9.9%
51.9%
25.9%
Fig. 15 Lockdown and loneliness
Yes, very lonely and cutoff
Not very lonely
Yes, sometimes I do feel
Not at all, I enjoy my owncompany
Figure 16 depicts some of the worries felt by the Indian youth during these trying times.
More than half of the respondents, whether students or employed, are concerned about the
competitive examinations for their career; its growth and enhancement.
58%
38.90%
38.90%
19.80%
6.80%
24.70%
4.30%
36.40%
17.30%
6.20%
8%
Competitive exams
Admission for higher / professio…
Self / family members health rel…
Not enough funds / money
Losing job / business
Impact on social life
Marriage
After pandemic whether everythi…
I am confused
I am happy go lucky, so not worr…
None of the above
Fig. 16 Biggest worry on the mind
Initiatives and trust:
Questions explored initiatives taken and support extended by the respondents, their
trust in advisories issued, sources of accurate information, and finally those
restrictions were for good or not.
Crises often inspire people to contribute. How many of the respondents extended their
helping hand can be seen in the Figure 17.
The most common contributions that youth have made in response to COVID-19 is in the
form of relief efforts, which is as shown in the Figure 18.
65.4%
34.6%
Fig. 17 Helping hand extended during lockdown
Yes
No
37.70%
14.80%
34.60%
27.80%
23.50%
17.90%
Donation (money, food, clothes...)
Been a part of relief team
Create awareness (audio, video,posters, ....)
Join awareness campaign on social media
Not applicable
Others
Fig. 18 Form of support extended
Youth are worried about many aspects of the pandemic and its impacts on their lives and
society. Unsurprisingly, their greatest worry right now is that they or someone they care
about will contract the virus. Already the over-strained health system in the context of the
pandemic and the fact is that many healthcare providers have closed their doors. Under
these circumstances, how the respondents felt about following the advisory is a shown in
the Figure 19.
Along with the pandemic, there was infodemics going on all around, super-flowing
information about the COVID-19 crisis. To filter out the accurate information, on whom the
respondents depend is depicted in the Figure 20.
95.1%
4.9%
Fig. 19 Following the COVID-19 advisory
Yes
No
16.70%
68.50%
45.10%
30.20%
5.60%
14.80%
Private media houses
Government health / news agency
World health agencies
Social media (Whatts App,Facebook,Twitter...)
Word of mouth
Others
Fig. 20 Reliance for accurate information
Trust in the government’s ability to respond effectively to the crisis, by its initiatives,
release of timely guidelines, advisories or even imposing restrictions are being judicious or
not has been explored from the Indian youth through this online survey. Figure 21 shows
the opinion for every one of us to see.
Conclusion: The pandemic and the control measures have brought down the life at
standstill. India is recognized as a youthful country since major portion of her population is
the youth. The present online survey tried to hear the voice of Indian youth while coming
out of the series of lockdowns and imposed restrictions on various aspects of the lifestyle of
the young India. The questionnaire tried to explore the impact on the education and
employment status, their physical and mental health and well-being, their engagements
during the home-bound period, and the challenges they face. The analysis of their
responses that has been presented hereinabove is to give a quick glance on what and how
they feel. However, in-depth analysis is being submitted for publication elsewhere.
90.7%
9.3%
Fig. 21 Restrictions can control pandemic
Yes
No