The 'demographic dividend' in India

It was fantastic to hear from an old friend and colleague some days ago, when she called me wanting to know if I wished to participate in efforts to help address the needs of skill development and training in India. She had recently returned to India along with her husband after spending a couple of years studying in an ivy league institution and pursuing her efforts in global healthcare and other related areas. She was concerned about the issues of youth employability in India and felt that urgent and concerted initiatives were required to help create employbility at scale for the youth of the country. Studies have indicated that India has a "demographic dividend" for the next 25 years or so - the 325 million people in the age group of 15 - 29 years - making India the country with the youngest workforce, with a median age well below that of China and other developed economies. Failure to reap this dividend, she felt, would have difficult consequences for the society over a period of time as unemployed and misguided youth would turn to other means for sustainance.

The conversation with her led to some further research on my part. I learnt how out of the 13 million new entrants to the workforce in India, currently no more than 20% receive skill training. And in our existing workforce, only 2% have skill training. In other developed countries, this figure ranges from 70% to over 90%. It appears that this is now becoming a key priority for the government and they are looking to make policy changes and encourage investment by the private sector as well. This is indeed encouraging. However, the overall picture still appears unclear in terms of concrete steps and action.

I have been privileged to work in an organisation and an indistry which has contributed towards employment of youth in a significant way, not only in India but in other countries around the world. My perspective (as a layman) is that for a country to progress, it requires the articulation of a clear and all encompassing vision which can then be executed by different nodes of the economy, working in conjunction and complemeting each other. An opportunity of this scale cannot be achieved unless various parties are galvanised into action - the government, civil services, educational institutions, not-for-profit organisations, as well as the private sector. The government ought to set the direction and policy, and take away bureacratic hurdles to the creation of new and collaborative models for skill development and employment; the private sector needs to be incented to participate with the promise of longer term benefits rather than immediate gains. Partnerships and helpful networks will lay the foundation of this progress...between each of these nodes. This is no different from how any corporation to operate...first by articulating its vision, and then aligning its various functions to execute to the vision.

But even doing all of that does not necessarily achieve sustainability. For that I continue to believe that in our next generation we need to focus on building Competence, Character and a Desire to Excel...which I consdier to be three pillars of sustainable all round development in society. Sustainability will necessarily require our people to discharge their obligations towards one another and to the society at large. And it is time we inculcated that in our people.

I was grateful to her for having thought of me and we ended the call with a resolve to think further about this and engage with some other like minded people. I hope to contribute in any small and humble way to this cause that I am capable of.

The will surely exists...now to find the way!

Misfit?

It has been a long time since I went to a party. Really long. And I don't mean cocktails or a social dinner or a small cosy gathering of friends. I haven't been that antisocial. I find myself spending most weekends in reading and reflection. I ponder over what is and what can be. I meet few people and then mostly those with whom I feel I can have a meaningful interaction...which I quite look forward to. It is time, I feel, spent in crystalising ideas that may benefit fellow homo sapiens some day...though the jury is still out on that. So when confronted with the prospects of a party - and I mean a real party ... with music, dancing, drinking, socialising ... The 3am cab ride back home. And rocks in the head next morning. A wasted Saturday. The works! Now that stops me dead in my tracks.

I realised this when recently a friend of mine invited me to one and I got all squirmy and fidgety. I asked her why she would bother calling me. But she still persisted and ... a couple of reminder smses later ... just when my protest would be expected to wane in the face of strong headwind ... I found myself even more adamant and determined to stay away from any form of revelry. Politeness would have meant declining with the usual partyline (pun unintended) "Oh, we would have sooo loved to be there but had this prior commitment to spend an evening with a friend's 88 year old grandmother who has been abandoned by her debauched progeny. She is soooo lonely and it will break her fragile heart if we dont show up. Damn!!"

No sir. I would not lie my way out of this (or for that matter anything else) and plainly stated that I had really no interest in being in a party.

I would rather spend the evening in the company of man's best friend. And here I am referring to Single Malt Whisky. A true companion that ages elegantly and remains ever loyal.

Which is exactly what I am doing right now.

Just when the party must be cranking up .

'Cos the invitation was for tonight.

Guilty?? Hmmm...

After all, it is her son's birthday. She has called her friends in Singapore to provide joy and cheer to the boy who spends majority of the year in a boarding school. I wish him well for a long and fruitful life. I find solace knowing that a recluse like me would anyway not be a great influence on such young, impressionable minds. Let them just meet normal, happy human beings.

What causes me to shy away from such forms of - what would be considered by most - simple joys and pleasures of modern existence??

Misfit, aren't I??