New Delhi, July 12: The Subject Association, Department of Economics, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), celebrated World Population Day on 11 July, 2024 with fervor and enthusiasm. On this occasion an online lecture on “Demographic Dividend in India: Is it a ‘Demographic Gift or a Burden’” by Dr. Saswata Ghosh, Associate Professor, Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Kolkata was organized followed by an offline Quiz competition on Population in the model class room of the Department of Economics, JMI.
The World Population Day Celebration was started with key address by Prof. Asheref Illiyan, Head, Department of Economics, JMI. He highlighted the importance of the World Population Day in creating awareness about various dimensions of population.
Dr. Gosh spoke on the issues of Demographic Dividend that India is uniquely placed. His speech clearly identified the opportunities and challenges that exists in the context of demographic dividend. Dr. Gosh highlighted that currently, India enjoys unique opportunity because its share of working age population is going to be 69 percent with median age of 28.4 years by 2030. Indian states have been converging towards lower death rate and infant mortality rates and higher life expectancy. Fertility rates have declined significantly across Indian states, but they do vary quite significantly. Owing to this bulge in young population India will become the country with third largest consumer demand and will produce significant portion of global output.
However, accrual of these benefits depends on conduciveness of context which seems to be absent in India. For Instance, India’s has significantly lower labour force participation rates (LFPR) than countries like China and the US. Similarly, significantly higher proportion of Indian children suffers from malnutrition than other countries and translates into lower quality of learning and human capital during adult hood. Unprecedented growth of inequality also poses a significant challenge in reaping the demographic dividend.
Dr Zakaria Siddiqui, Associate Professor, JMI made some additional remarks complementing Dr Ghose’s points. He highlighted the there has been long standing policy reform issues that are yet to be addressed. No country in the world has developed without having manufacturing boom. Dr. Siddiqui highlighted that agricultural sector has been on negative net support since independence. This has worked as a major hindrance for human development in rural India. We have also failed in adapting to or mitigating the trend of climate change leading to loss of production and productivity.
Dr. Vasim Akram, Assistant Professor and student advisor, Subject Association coordinated the event. The event was enthusiastically attended by students of B.A. (Hons.), M.A., and Ph.D. Economics of the Department of Economics of JMI. The event concluded with vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Mohd. Kashif Khan, Assistant Professor, Dept. Economics, JMI.
