READ ALSO:

Young minds to brighten up TOI’s green parliament

READ ALSO:

Assam CM credits young generation for helping government

LONDON: The world is getting younger but the world's parliamentarians, elected to govern are getting older.The median age of the global population is around 26.4 years and among the voting age population worldwide , 49% are between the ages of 20 and 39,But the average age of those sitting in the world's parliaments is now between 51-60 years .A 20-year-old Scottish student made history in May 7 general elections in UK by becoming Britain's youngest MP since 1667. But the trend is a rare one across the world.Only 2.2% of MPs in India are below the age of 30. Only 1 in 4 Indian MPs (22%) in India are below the age of 45. Less than 1.7% of MPs worldwide are under 30.When "young" is defined as under 30, only one country, Norway breaks the 10% barrier.India is ranked 19th among 98 countries when it comes to having MPs below age of 30.Neighbours Sri Lanka is ranked 25th with 1.4% of its parliamentarians below the age of 30 while China is ranked 27th with 1.2% of its MPs below the age of 30.The Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) says 17 countries don't have a single MP below the age of 30 which includes Cameron, Malaysia, Qatar, Uruguay, Monaco and Mongolia.Two thirds of single and lower houses of parliament have 2 per cent or fewer young parliamentarians. All upper houses have less than six per cent with three quarters electing no young parliamentarians at all.So what are the ways that India can get more young people to enter its parliament?Zeina Hilal, IPU's officer in charge on youth participation told TOI "Reducing voting age can really help and encourage youngsters to take a keen interest in politics. Also aligning voting age with the age to be eligible to stand for elections can also be a game changer. At present in India, people can vote when they are 18 years but can stand for elections only when they are 25. We want India to make both the voting age and age eligible to stand for elections at 18".Hilal said India could also introduce quota to ensure youngsters get a chance to enter parliament just like several countries have done."Political parties in India need to be more receptive to the idea of having youngsters as MPs. In India, the culture is to wait for your turn to become MP which usually comes well after 40 years of age. Finance s another big factor. Elections in India is a big money game and not many youngsters can afford it"."Quotas can play an important role. In Rwanda for example, two seats are reserved in the lower house for those below age of 35. In Kenya the constitution reserves two seats for peopled aged18-35 years. Sweden's Social Democratic Party has a 25% quota for under 25 year old candidates. Nicaragua's Sandinista Front for National Liberation has a 15% quota for youth in party leadership and electoral register. In Cyprus, two parties have a 20% quota for those under 45 years of age. In Morocco, 30 seats are reserved for young people on parliament while in Uganda, five seats are for people under 30 years of age," Hilal said.IPU recently held a meeting of young parliamentarians from across the world. India was represented by MP Dushyant Chautala and Pritam Gopinath Munde besides member of Rajya Sabha Ritabrata Banerjee.IPU says "The presence of young people in elected positions is important for a variety of reasons. First, the median age of the world's population is 28.5. Half of the global population is younger, with the median age dropping to 26.4 in less developed regions and 19.3 in the least developed. Young people, like women, are therefore a politically "excluded majority".