Recently, United Nation announced in their report that India will be largest populous country in the world by 2027. The average age of Indians will be 38.1 years by 2050. This estimate has opened many debates across the globe for challenges of the country in development.
Population growth is the mainly result of better development of medical services which decreased infant mortality rate and also increased average age of a human. Pre- independence average age of human was 31-35 years. Now with the advancement of medical technology it has increased to 60-65 years.
No doubt, huge population is always a threat for limited resources. Be it water, lands, minerals, fuels everything is limited in number and sharing these things among huge mass is threat to sustainable development. Population increase also possess threat for administration and policy framing. As India is the most diversified country and population growth is not limited to single diversity.
However, we need to look population growth issue other way. More young population means more workforce for the globe. We need to convert human to human capital by imparting them skills. There are many countries where workforce has saturated. Japan average age has increased and they need young minds. There is no cheap labour available in China now. India should take these as opportunity and government should frame policies according to these situations.
Government of India has put some focus on this advantage. They have initiated scheme such as Skill India, Atal innovation mission, startup India etc. These schemes are performing well. However government need to do something from grassroot level. The highest priority should be on educating young mind so that they can work for abroad companies. This will enhance India in many ways like strengthening forex reserve, huge remittance etc.
In Democracy, government cannot adopt china’ s two child policy. However government can put some moral obligations on people of India. Assam government has put strict rules to curb population growth by denying job to parents of more than 2 children. Its the time government should focus more on educating young minds and curb the issue.
amit kumar 