By Ritesh Garg

India, being a developing country, could certainly be traced as one of the fastest growing economies of the world. It has remained vaguely unaffected from the global incidents and economic drench that drew the countries of the world during 2008 slowdown/ global meltdown. Even in this period of economic deceleration, India has shown its strength in the form of big population, ever growing market and continued purchasing powers. Now, the whole world is looking forward to India as their favourite destination region for investments. And most certain that this global approach would facilitate to the socio-economic enhancement of youths in India, as 65% of the population here is below the age of 35 years.

Various surveys have depicted that India would become the YOUTH CAPITAL of the world by the year 2027. In 2027, majority of Indian population will be young in the world and young means more energetic and more enthusiasm for work. Surveys have also portrayed that India would enjoy the ‘demographic dividend’ which is a direct result from its young populace in India’s demography.

But there also arises a few questions with this notion of youth capital: Are we ready for the young people? Are we prepared to give them the proper purpose/mean/job for life? How we will convert this energy into the dividend?

India is having unutilized abundant resources in rural areas and country’s majority of the population resides in rural area. So to say, that there is a huge difference in Rural and Urban India. But there also is a wide gap between them. The this particular link between the two, is missing. There is a famous quote in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand that- Pahaad ki Jawaani aur Pahaad ka Paani kabhi uske kaam nahi aata (Youth of the hills and water of the hills never works for Hills). We need to connect our youth (Jawaani) with the resources (Paani) to excel and extort this demographic dividend. If we are not able to connect these two great resources, we will never become capable of providing the genuine purpose to our young generation, which inherit the potential for creating the path for the ‘demographic responsibility’ rather than ‘demographic dividend’.

If demographic responsibility is achieved, it may amplify various other problems in the country which may be in the form of naxalism, increased crime rates, expansion of slums, unemployment, illiteracy, malnutrition and so on.

There are other questions that may concern to the country as: Here how we will connect these resources to our youth? How will we create the means/purpose for our youth? Will our youth be ready for these purposes? We need to think for such questions and make efforts to identify the solutions to these concerns as early as possible, as 2027 is calling.

Ritesh Garg is a social entrepreneur. He has opportunity to met more than 200 social entrepreneurs across India. He can be reached at Ritesh.garg01@gmail.com