India looking at demographic disaster, need to provide right kind of education: Shashi Tharoor
On Thursday, October 25, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor warned that we are looking at a demographic disaster and said that in the coming decade India will be in a position to be the dynamic, productive and youthful nation, as 65 percent of its population is under the age of 35, but it will make sense only if we can make youth to be able to take advantage of the opportunities.
Tharoor was speaking at ‘The Economist Summit 2018’, he said, “Sixty five per cent of our population is under the age of 35. The ILO (International Labour Organization) says in 2030 we will have 160 million people on the job (with the) starting age group of 19 to 23, whereas China will have only 92 million. So, we are going to be, in a sense, in a position to be the dynamic, productive, youthful nation”.
Tharoor said, “But all of this will make sense, will only be a demographic dividend if we can in fact equip these young people to be able to take advantage of the opportunities the 21st century offers”.
If you’re looking at a demographic disaster,it’s staring you in face.We need a set of policies-education,right kind of education,we need to ensure education is in sync with what job market needs&we need to skill those who aren’t going to go for a college degree: S Tharoor (25.10) pic.twitter.com/nHm0uKHEmP
— ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2018
Former Union Minister referred to a 2016 World Bank report according to which 69 percent jobs in Indian Economy faced threat due to technological advancement. He said that India should start reacting on these problems by making policies to provide right kind of education including skill development.
He said, “So, you put all that together and let’s really start reacting very newly to all of this. We are looking at a demographic disaster”.
He stressed that kids should be provided the knowledge of upcoming technologies that can help them to take the advantages of opportunities that 21st century offers.
Tharoor added, “These are the things of the 21st century. There is no point in teaching the kids what worked in the 1990s or even the first decade of the 21st century. Because those things are already getting out of date in the world”.
