Can India reap the benefit of its demographic dividend (by Mohammed Wahidul Islam) – APSC Mains Essay

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Can India reap the benefit of its demographic dividend – APSC Mains Essay

(Essay submitted in APSC Mains Essay Writing Contest 2019 – Essay Topics for week 2)

 

Can India reap the benefit of its demographic dividend

By Mohammed Wahidul Islam

 

Introduction: India, the largest democracy in the world also houses the greatest demographic  dividend than any other country today. While other countries and its neighbours will be ageing, India shall continue to stride forward with its colossal demographic dividend which shall bear witness to India’s growth and prosperity. When the menace of surmounting rate of the old-age group continues to drag others, India on the other hand can boast of her vigour and virility which comes from its young work force and the its growing populace who have many springs to by-stand and bear witness to India’s magnification in various dimensions.

Issue at hand: “Will India have a gigantic populace of young hands, and surpass other nations in that respect”, however isn’t quite  the question. The question  is “What can India gain from its genetic pool of virile manpower?”  To answer the question, one must try to comprehend the country first hand, right from its corals to its snow-caps, its economic line-up, work cultures, regional practices et al.

Economic prowess being the criteria of success in the present state of affairs, a nation is known from its GDP, Currency Reserves, Trade footprint, Capital market etc. A huge manpower fuels all of them and India is blessed to have a demographic dividend amongst its populace. At this backdrop, rising unemployment, agricultural distress, lack of opportunities, poverty, health issues stares in the face. Despite her demographic dividend, such struggles keeps it from reaching its true potential, from doing what it is supposed to do and from delivering results. Then again the never ending political drama doesn’t allow representatives any respite to pay even a cursory glance towards much dramatic issues like this one. Also there are loopholes in administrative discipline in implementing different policies meant for providing respite and measures. Barring all such perils, there must be ways out to conclude them and give our ailing demographic dividend some air to breathe, to yield their ground.

Way forward: Being a magnanimous issue that it truly is, coming up with measures is a hard-hitting process. Below are some plausible points which are definitely achievable with firm hand :

  1. Reconstructing agro-economic crisis—Since agriculture has taken a nosedive, its viability has lost ground amongst its patronisers. This outwards trend from agriculture to other options is lethal for an economy like ours. Although a lot has been done on its revival through a plethora of schemes and policies, still younger workforce are purging out from it. Its policy implementation be stressed upon
  2. Combating Unemployment— Creating an attractive start-up ambiance with lenient angel-tax regulations, trouble-free loans, curbing red-tapism, so on and so forth shall not only engage a huge section of the demographic dividend for opting it, but shall also bring in immense capital inflows to fill our coffers. Win-win situation.
  3. Inclusive development— more banking facilities in remote pockets, engaging rural youth in the run-up to economic growth, building not just ‘Smart Cities’ but ‘Smart Villages’ too, bringing industrial augmentation in villages amongst others could ensure that our marginalised manpower is covered.
  4. Vocational Education and workplace counselling— Increased emphasis on theoretical knowledge has shown pragmatic aspect of education a backseat. The industrial appetite for efficient professionals can only be met from a blend of regular curriculum with vocational courses reinforced with industrial counselling.
  5. Political Stability— democratic societies bloom in peaceful waters. Stability of government ensures that labour laws are up to standard, wages are uniform, etc.

Conclusion: India’s demographic dividend is a resource bestowed upon her that has the calibre to skyrocket it into the largest economy in a brief span. But friction creating forces must be dealt with. For that robust means must be employed to cater to the demand for an environment conducive to their growth. Thus it can be concluded in affirmative that certainly, India can reap the benefits of her demographic dividend without a shadow of doubt.

[ 650 Words ]

 

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