I want to be rich and I want lots of money, I don’t care about clever, I don’t care about funny. It seems that Lily Allen’s song is inspiring today’s youth, who don’t mind opting for illegal ways to earn quick money. Living life on the edge, post graduates and MBAs, who belonged to affluent families, were recently caught for alleged car snatching and robbing an NRI. What is more shocking is the reason behind the crime, where the prime accused needed money to keep his live-in relationship going. Similarly, another incident revealed how a student of Delhi Public School allegedly stole his own car and sold it for extra pocket money.
Be it wanting to live life king-size or peer pressure, many young educated youngsters are increasingly getting into crime. Figures released by the National Crime Records Bureau recently show that youths aged 18-30 years were behind 57 per cent of crime in Delhi. And about 12 per cent of criminals caught were educated.
And even the city’s youngsters swear by such happenings. Siddhant Johri, student, Ambedkar University says, “I know many students and my friends’ friends who are involved in shoplifting and minor crimes for extra money. Initially, it starts as a fun activity to try adventurous things, but gradually it takes the shape of illegal activities. But it’s sad to hear news like that. I would rather argue with my folks or do a part-time job for extra money than steal a car.”
But experts hold a different view. Dr Namisha Kumar, behavioural expert feels that such cases of anti-social behaviour are a mixture of genetic and environmental factors combined with poor upbringing. “Today’s youngsters want immediate gratification. They want comfort without any hardwork. And when they fail to get it, they opt for shortcuts. Teenagers also have power issues. They enjoy challenging laws and authority, without worrying about the consequences. And such fearless attitude encourages them to get involved in criminal activities.”
Seconds Anushreeta Neogy, a media professional, who feels that the basic reason behind these tendencies could be due to the growing distance between parents and children. “Parents expect and believe that the effective way to discipline children is to threaten them with physical violence. However, externally that may seem effective, but it’s wrong. Concealed desires due to peer pressure in young minds do not actually undergo an exercise of effective reasoning to differentiate between gold and substances that glitter. What is required is to break the notion of absolute obedience imposed. The opinions and the wall of silence must be broken between parents and children,” she says.
With more hectic schedules of working parents and little time for kids worsens the situation. Vinita Malhotra, a Gurgaon-based psychiatrist suggests that parents must spend more time with their kids, so that they can steer them in the right direction. “They should keep a watch on their ward’s activities and his company. And if they find any signs of anti-social behaviour, they should immediately go for counselling or psychotherapy.”