– Anurradha Prasad

(CMD and Editor-in-Chief, News24)

On the global map, several countries are yearning for a young population, i.e. an active workforce. The most significant contribution to advancing any nation lies in its active workforce. The most substantial role in advancing any society belongs to capable individuals, but there comes a time when alongside capability, numbers or, in other words, hands, are required. In today’s date, one of Japan’s most significant problems is its dwindling population. Several European countries are grappling with a sharp increase in the elderly population. On the world map, there are many countries that are longing for a young population, i.e., an active workforce.

Now the question arises, how did this situation come about? For large population countries like India, what hidden messages lie within? Is it time for us to move beyond the ‘Hum Do, Hamare Do‘ mindset and progress? Will the day come when, like Japan and European countries, India will also advocate for smaller, better families? Does a large population today constitute strength or weakness? Is India making proper use of the capabilities of its vast young population, or are free schemes rendering them idle and dependent? We will attempt to seek answers to all these questions in our special program, “Population’s Half-Truth.”

The ‘Half-Truth’ of Population

In our country, there is often talk of implementing strict population control laws. But with the current pace at which India’s population is growing, is there a need for such laws? Have you ever thought about it openly? While India may be at the top globally in terms of population and may boast the world’s largest youth population, the reality is that a large population is often seen as a burden. The primary reason for this is India not giving enough emphasis to making its youth skilled. This is why India is not reaping the demographic dividend from its large population as it should be.

A Severe Lack of Skills Among Youth

Only 5% of India’s active workforce has undergone formal skilled training. However, behind this statistic lies the fact that a significant portion of India’s workforce is engaged in the unorganized sector, where skills are transferred from family or acquired on the job. According to the India Skills Report 2021, 47% of B.Tech graduates were not employable. This trend is also observed among MBA degree holders. Even among ITI graduates entering the job market, 75% were found to lack essential skills. It is estimated that every year, two out of three youth entering India’s labor market are unemployed. This problem can be seen from two perspectives: firstly, the lack of quality education, and secondly, changes in the industry with economic growth. In this scenario, the transformation of the economy presents a significant challenge in skill development and reskilling the country’s vast youth population.

Former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam often said that if rural India starts thinking beyond agriculture, the problem of unemployment can be addressed to a great extent. He argued that promoting local artisans, rural tourism, and knowledge-based products and services could create jobs for the youth. Dr. Kalam’s idea of India can be viewed in two ways: first, creating opportunities for employment at the local level for the youth and utilizing their capabilities to the fullest.

Continuous Decline in TFR

Secondly, decentralization of development, reaching employment opportunities beyond cities and preventing displacement of families. Dr. Kalam’s vision can also be likened to Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of rural self-reliance. The youth that India is proud of today will not always remain young. They will eventually become elderly. In reality, educated and enlightened individuals in our country have started taking control of the population. “Hum Do, Hamara Ek” is now a thing of the past. Most upper-middle-class families are content with “Hum Do, Hamara Ek.” This has led to a continuous decline in the Total Fertility Rate (TFR). During the time of independence, the TFR was 5.9, which has now dropped to 2. This is lower than the replacement level of 2.1 as recognized by the United Nations Population Division. It means that in India, people are dying at a rate faster than they are being born.

The United Nations Population Fund’s India Ageing Report 2023 estimates that today’s youth in India will age rapidly in the coming decades. By July 2022, 10.5% of the population in the country is over 60 years old, which is projected to increase to 15% by 2036 and 20.8% by 2050. This means that as India approaches the 100th anniversary of its independence, it will be facing challenges similar to European countries, which are dealing with the issues arising from a declining youth population. However, it is essential to pay attention to another significant problem. In recent years, governments have flooded the market with free schemes aimed at securing votes. Some are receiving free food, cash assistance, smartphones, or tablets. In this context, the question arises: when people can get free food, money for expenses, and entertainment gadgets from the comfort of their homes, why would they opt for jobs? Perhaps they have started to find pleasure in idleness.

Changing the Situation from Vote Bank Politics

It is a natural law that birds leave their nests in the morning to arrange for their food and water. Even wild animals roam here and there in search of prey. Humans, too, have followed this rule, inventing new things to make their lives easier. In common parlance, it was often said that if you sit idle, where will you get food from? However, vote bank politics and the concept of a welfare state have changed this situation.

Government Schemes Playing a Major Role

Government schemes are playing a significant role in fulfilling the basic needs of a large population living in rural areas. These schemes provide free grain, free electricity, free healthcare, free education, free travel, and separate funds for personal expenses. The most significant concern with this model is its chance to turn our youth into freeloaders. As India approaches its 100th year of independence, our politicians will need to think deeply about three things: Firstly, how to make the majority of India’s youth skilled. Secondly, how to empower youth to become self-reliant instead of freeloaders and contribute to the country’s progress. Thirdly, ensuring that we do not revert to a situation where “Hum Do, Hamara Ek” returns. We need to explore paths where child-rearing and nurturing are not solely the responsibility of educated and working women but men also share equal responsibility.