On the issue beset with implementation of state programs to improve the position of youth in society

Introduction

Human life and society consist of contradictions and problems that are both sources of risk and threats, and sources of development. Youth problems, as youth constitute one of the important segments of society, not only negatively affect their quality of life but can also cause social unrest and various risks. These problems have specific characteristics depending on the age and situation of young people, requiring targeted solutions [1].

Youth problems in our society can be divided into two groups:

1. Internal causes – shortcomings and defects existing in society, stemming from ineffective decisions of administration and officials.
2. External causes – the influence of projects from other states and "soft power" policies imposed on the country through information and other means.

Therefore, in the current era the historical era of information all states, including Tajikistan, are paying great attention to ensuring societal security against undesirable and dangerous information phenomena.

Alongside economic and financial problems, young people face psychological challenges, access to quality education and healthcare, career choice, unemployment, family formation, socialization, and legal protection. Additionally, internet addiction, drug and alcohol use, moral decline, and extremist tendencies are dangerous issues. These problems lead to the sociocultural alienation of youth, which can reduce patriotism, self-awareness, and national pride, and turn young people toward unacceptable values. From this perspective, the readiness of society and the state to create favorable conditions for the development and protection of youth is of great importance. Most of these problems lead to the sociocultural alienation of youth. Serious attention should be paid to this concept because if young people are alienated from society, educating them in the spirit of patriotism, self-awareness, and national pride becomes impossible; they will consider themselves alien to society and the state and show greater inclination toward other values [2; 3].

In recent years, the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has adopted a number of state programs and strategies to address youth issues, including:

National Program for Social Development of Youth for 2022–2026 (Government Decree No. 567 of December 30, 2021).

State Youth Policy Strategy for the period up to 2030.

The main goals of these programs are to create social, economic, and cultural conditions for youth, protect state and national values, foster political awareness, and ensure youth participation in decision-making.

Although programs and action plans have been developed, their implementation faces many challenges and shortcomings, such as:

• Lack of funding, especially at the local level.
• Shortage of staff units in local structures.
• Lack of additional funding sources for youth policy activities.
• Absence of relevant specializations in educational institutions to train specialists in state youth policy.

These shortcomings negatively affect the effectiveness of programs and the social development of youth.

To improve the implementation of state programs and address youth issues, the following is proposed:

• Involve experienced specialists and expert teams to design programs that reflect contemporary realities and are tolerant of youth opinions.
• Seriously develop and implement informational and educational measures to increase resistance to corruption and reduce crime rates.
• Along with children and students, include working youth, people with disabilities, and labor migrants in program activities.
• Ensure necessary funding and additional financial sources for program implementation.
• Seriously study and train specialized personnel for state youth policy in educational institutions.

During the transition period, both state authorities and non-governmental and public movements needed to change their focus, introduce innovations, and adapt to new systems of state power. The transition from one democratic social structure to another was extremely difficult for Tajikistan. The Republic of Tajikistan gained its independence under very difficult economic, social, and political conditions. Therefore, the fate of the formation of a new democratic society in Tajikistan largely depended on the active civic position and social well-being of young people, and on the social situation of youth [4].

The young independent state of Tajikistan clearly understood this urgent necessity from the first days of gaining independence. From the first days of independence, public associations made a significant contribution to building a law-based, democratic, secular state. In those years, it was very difficult to explain to people the importance of a democratic society and the essence of democracy. Due to low levels of knowledge about the state administration system, there was virtually no opportunity for dialogue with the older generation. In this situation, the role of public associations in changing the thinking and behavior of people, including youth, was significant. The need arose to develop appropriate strategies to establish a connection between the state and the people. Public associations could serve as such a mechanism a strategy for forming ties between society and the state [5; 6].

Currently, the fate of Tajikistan’s younger generation depends on two organizational systems that cannot function fully without improving mutual cooperation and bettering the significance of youth life. This system consists of state and public youth movements, as well as state bodies for youth affairs and public organizations.

As is known, human resources, including youth, along with other values, are one of the main factors in the development of any state. This allows us to recognize state youth policy as one of the most important directions of social development. Youth policy has always received special attention as a strategic and priority sector of state policy in social development. State programs for implementing youth policy are aimed at citizens aged 14 to 30, including youth in difficult life situations, as well as young families. Since the majority of Tajikistan’s population consists of citizens under 30, with an average age of 24.7 years, the country’s youth become the main labor resource, and their labor activity is the primary source of social security for children, people with disabilities, and the elderly [7].

The Youth Policy Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan defines a set of priority areas focused on youth, covering tasks related to their participation in implementing priority national projects.

Youth are an object of national-state interests and act as one of the main factors ensuring the development of the state and society. The future of the new generation must be inextricably linked to the protection, development, and revival of the country, and the continuation of historical and cultural heritage. The stability of state youth policy is ensured through effective implementation of measures defining tasks, significance, and the role of state policy toward the younger generation. State youth policy is innovative and productive, reflecting the creative and labor potential of youth. Its implementation is aimed at creating conditions and legal, economic, and organizational guarantees for citizens to choose their path in life, for youth self-realization, and for supporting youth public associations, movements, and initiatives.

State youth policy: is state policy regulating relations between youth and the state; is a system for forming priorities and measures aimed at creating favorable conditions and opportunities for active youth participation in public life and self-realization, developing their strength in the interest of the state, thus contributing to the country’s socioeconomic and cultural development, competitiveness, and national security.

The implementation of state programs to address youth issues in Tajikistan is a process systematically directed toward youth development across all areas of social life. Despite progress, serious problems of funding, personnel training, and comprehensive youth engagement in this process must be overcome to achieve real and sustainable results. Only under such conditions can the youth of Tajikistan play an effective role as a driving force of society and make a significant contribution to the development and sustainability of the state.