Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Nation on the move: the Dynamics of Demographics


India is a truly diversified nation. A federal system with thirty odd states and union territories within, of different culture, cast and creed, different climatic zones,  the population speaking hundreds of languages;  India with the multiplicity of  hues and shades that it possesses in every area, stands so unique among nations of the world. Managing a nation as diverse as India, could be a challenge for any Government.

Helped by global changes such as fall in crude oil prices and increased inflow in FDI that helped the country in controlling its Current Account deficit, the national planners today focuses on imaginative campaigns such as ‘Clean India’ ‘Make in India’, ‘Digital India’ and now ‘Startup India’ etc. Infrastructure, Energy, Healthcare and Entrepreneurship development are paramount priorities for the Central Government.

Within this background, we have to view the Indian demography.  Heading to become the most populous nation of the world in a decade, India enjoys the unique advantage of having more than 50% of its denizens coming under the age of 25 years. It is estimated that by the year 2020, Indian will be one of the youngest nation on the Planet Earth with an average age of 29 years, which is far lower than China, America and Europe. With its youth power at the peak, the nation offers many possibilities and opportunities to its citizens.

 Indian youth also have to face its challenges.  That comes in the form of unskilled labor, rural population, global job travel restrictions and limited focus on entrepreneurship. These challenges have to be overcome so that the country can enable and empower its youth into job creation, wealth creation and the distribution of the same.

 In the last decade, many nations of the world underwent drastic political changes within, led predominantly by its youth who were idling and were devoid of activities of employment and entrepreneurship. They felt suffocated within their existing systems led by people who were alienated from the reality, sitting in glass houses, on denial. For a nation such as India, with more than 65% of its population below the age of 35 years, there could be a demographic disaster.  This calls for campaigns to consolidate and lead Indian youth power constructively into peaceful activates of job and wealth creation.

 Between  the agony and ecstasy of the its growth, somewhere the planners of the country couldn’t focus properly on the necessity of preparing the Indian youth to take up employment which lies not only in the brick and mortar economy but also in the digital world. Unskilled labour is an unwanted force. Immediately the country needs to define various skills (old and new) that are required, create the curriculum and impart the same through the existing and new institutions.

An ageing world would require assistance from the youth for running their affairs smoothly. For every nation of the world, youth power is required for sheer existence. India possesses the Youth power in abundance.  Immediately equipping Indian youth with skills and empower them to meet the current and emerging global needs will be an opener for them travel across the world. An example is the Indian IT force during the turn of the last century.

 A century so characterized by Knowledge, it is imperative that the people are imparted with the same. Therein comes the process of learning.  Of the various methodologies that are available today, experiential learning process gains utmost leeway in developing personnel.  

 Preparing Indian youth, skilling them up, upgrading their proficiency and making them employable and or leading them to entrepreneurship are the Nation’s top most priority

 To put it briefly, India has its work cut out for the future.

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