The newly-appointed special officer in Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's office, O P Singh, said today the state administration needs to adapt itself to the "peculiar needs" of the millennials and engage with them to prevent a potential violent showdown.
Singh, a 1992-batch IPS officer of the Haryana cadre, said millennials are a distinct segment, inter-connected and instantly informed because of their proximity to the Internet.
Singh has served across Haryana, in five districts as superintendent of police, over his 25 years in the service. That possibly could have weighed in his favour to be appointed the special officer (community policing and outreach) in the chief minister's office last week.
Before this assignment, he was posted as the additional director general of police (human rights and litigation).
Singh said he finds his new assignment "very exciting".
"It is extremely imaginative on the part of the government to create a vertical like this at the very top. I look forward to learn and contribute."
Asked what challenges do millennials, those born at the turn of the 21st century, pose, Singh said they have "peculiar needs" and the administration should adapt to those needs.
"They flood the public spaces on slightest provocation and easily overrun law enforcement agencies with sheer number. There is no question of being soft on protagonists of organised crime and violence, but we need to think beyond the use of force (when dealing with millennials)," he said.
"(The administration) needs to engage and partner with them in peacetime to prevent build-up and avert violent showdown," he said, adding, key field officials should acquire "strategic relationships" by engaging the millennials and their influencers continuously.
He outlined the "soft skills" the officials should have: networking, bonding, public speaking and negotiations.
Singh said he would help field officials in implementing good practices to make people-administration relation "more vibrant, dynamic and trust-based" as governments across the world are struggling to keep up with inter-connected people living in an era of information overload.
"The situation is particularly acute in developing countries which have a population with youth bulge," he said.
Asked what he means by "youth bulge", Singh explained as per the United Nations Population Fund Report 'The Power of 1.8 Billion', there are nearly 1.8 billion people in 10-24 years of age, the highest ever in history.
India's share in that age group is a massive 35.6 crore, 28 per cent of its population. This category is significant as they will be in workplace for the next 30-40 years.
"It is a demographic windfall and can by itself bring about additional 2 per cent growth in GDP. There has never before been so much potential for economic and social progress," he said.
"However for this to happen, big-ticket investment and herculean effort are needed in education, skill development and health sector. The government is awake to it. It is doing its best to help young people realise their potential."
Singh explained the importance of this age-group citing China's rise. China today is what its "50-plus" people made it when they were in their 20s, he said.
"The question is what kind of country this generation in India will create? With fresh ideas, high-speed Internet and gadgets at their command, they are developing new ways of social transactions and transforming culture, business and politics. India is poised to be the first bottom-up digital economy in the world," he said.
"... Administration needs to align and adapt itself and do everything conceivable to help this generation succeed. It is my privilege to be a part of this endeavour," he added.
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