That the youth of the country are one of the most important demographic goes without saying. People in the 15-34 years category were expected count in at ulation in 2011. The 15-34 age groups, what the government defines as youth, is expected to make up 34.9% -more than one-third of the many changes that India is going through is affecting the youth.“With economic growth comes social progress, which is breking down the systems of patriarchy and hierarcy that existed in Indian society for centuries. Those who have been the beneficiaries of such systems tend react violently in the face of sudden change,” Ashis Nandy, senior honorary fellow at the center of the study for Developing Societies.

Changes in social structures are also leaving the youth anxious, setting the ground for violence.

A recent study- Indian youth in a Transforming World. Attitudes and Perception- conducted by the Center for the study of Developing Societies shows that unemployment currently at 10.8% among the 15-24 age group is a major factor for the anxiety.

“Unemployed youth and students tended report very high anxiety more than those who were employed and homemakers,” it says.

Sanjay Kumar fellow at CSDS, says, “Though factors like unemployment and discrimination do not directly lead to violence, feelings of being marginalized in society keeps youth on edge and a spark can bring them to a boiling point.”

Youth among minorities that have traditionally been apprehensive about being treated fairly also report high levels of anxiety.

“There was greater anxiety about the future among the tribals and Dalits as compared to the forward cases. The less educated were clearly more agitated and uncertain about the future as compared to those who had access to higher education,” the study adds.

The powers that be need to pay attention to such anxieties. Many a time, the foundation lies in economic strife and ambitions- such as a better reservation status. A case in point is the Gujar unrest in Rajasthan.

The Gujars, classified among other Backward Classes, wanted to be reclassified as Scheduled Tribe. Things came to a head on May23, 2008 WHEN Gujars lynched policemen in Bharatpur and 15 protestors were shot by the police. Another 15 died when a mob tried torch a police station.

Such confrontations show that as soon as someone tried to disrupt the status quo, violence is a very real possibility.

Dipankar Gupta, former professor of social sciences, JNU, who studied three riots- Sikh Killings, Bhiwandi riots in the 80s and Ahmedabad, 2002- says law enforcement is essential in a democracy a view corroborated by various studies. “none of this would’ve happened if the government had been strict in terms of law enforcement,” says Gupta.

“A number of socio-economic factors contribute to crime, including poverty, inequality, unemployment, rapid urbanization and uncontrolled urban migration. The inefficiency of the security apparatus and the pervasive sense of impunity are firther influencing facetors,” says a 2011 study by the India Armed Violence Assessment.

The youth also resort to violence when emancipation, which could recognition of a separate identity and aspirations, remains unfilled through the democratic process. “Many youth in both Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh said that the Indian State ignores you until you take up arms. This can also occur if they feel that their participation in the political process is thwarted- either by unfair electoral means or through the stranglehold of the older generation.” Says Navnita Chadha Behera, professor, Faculity of social, University of Delhi and author of Demystifying Kashmir.

With the growing gap between the haves and have-nots, there is growing resentment between the economic classes as well. This can be seen most clearly in the oft-repoted cases of violence against domestic workers by educated, well to do urbanites. The middle class is approximately 13.1% of the population and is projected to rise to 20.3% by 2015-16. The number will reach 37.2% by 2025-26.

“There is a sense among middle classes that the poor are to be blamed for India not making enough progress,” says Dr Peter van der Veer, director of the Max Planck Institute for the study of religious and Ethnic Diversity in Germany. He is a Dutch anthropologist and expert on Indian religion and society. There is also, increasing reports of violent crimes against the rich as reported in newly developed cities such as Gurgaon, where rich and poor reside in close proximity.

Another alarming trend that Indian youth are active part of is spreading online hate messages. The harm this can cause was clearly seen messages sparked off among the Northeastern community. Racist and xenophobic speech is widespread on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. Anonymity seems to encourage people to be rabid without restraint.

“Behind the veil of anonymity, one can easily resort to verbal and virtual violence. So, one doesn’t have to take responsibility of one’s words and can abuse anyone. In India, the state does not have the necessary resources to curb this. When it does, it goes after the wrong set of people, like the parody accounts of the PMO,” says Prasanto K Roy, a technology and social media expert.

The 2011 edition of the Simon Wiesenthal annual Digital Terror & Hate Report notes a 12% increase to 14,000 problematic social networks websites, forums, blogs, Twitter etc.

“There is this great sense of power that young people get feom interacting with celebrities and saying anything to anyone they want. Especially, female TV personalities are targeted, also from a feeling that social media is more powerful than regular media. It almost seems like a route to instant fame-at least online-by being retweeted,” Roy adds.

So what is the preventive or remedial action that can be taken.