Transform demographic dividend into development dividend: PM Modi urges states
New Delhi, June 11
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged states to transform India's demographic dividend into a 'development dividend' by investing in education, skilling and capacity-building of young people, as he chaired the 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog.
Emphasising that nearly 70 crore Indians are below the age of 25, PM Modi said the country's youth are its greatest asset and called for coordinated efforts by the Centre and states to harness their potential for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Addressing Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors and Administrators from across the country, the Prime Minister said India is uniquely positioned due to its demographic profile, with nearly 70 crore citizens below the age of 25.
Describing this as the country's biggest strength, he urged states to convert this demographic dividend into a development dividend through sustained investments in education, skill development and capacity-building programmes.
The meeting, held under the theme "Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat@2047", witnessed participation from all 28 states and five Union Territories.
It marked the first time that Chief Ministers of all 28 states attended a Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog.
The Prime Minister noted that while several major economies are facing uncertainty and economic challenges, India's growth story continues to inspire the world.
He stressed the importance of strengthening self-reliance and encouraged states to adopt global best practices, particularly in renewable energy.
Highlighting the importance of cooperative federalism, PM Modi said the Centre and states must work together to achieve the goal of a developed India by 2047.
He said the vision of Viksit Bharat should become a collective mission extending to every state, district, block and village.
Referring to India's recent trade agreements with several countries, PM Modi called on states to create opportunities for youth and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
He urged them to equip stakeholders to benefit from these agreements and actively attract investments from partner nations.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good that all 28 Chief Ministers attended - cooperative federalism in action! But states need more financial resources to actually implement these programs. Central schemes often have too many conditions. Let's give states flexibility to design local skill programs based on their industry needs.
Impressive attendance indeed. The focus on renewable energy adoption and global best practices is smart. But demographic dividend becomes a liability if we don't create enough jobs. Every year 12 million young Indians enter the workforce - are we creating enough formal sector jobs for them?
Viksit Bharat 2047 sounds great, but let's be practical. Our education system still focuses on rote learning instead of critical thinking and problem-solving. We need a complete overhaul of school curriculum to include coding, design thinking, and financial literacy from Class 6 onwards. That's how we truly harness this demographic dividend.
The trade agreements point is crucial. Our MSMEs need handholding to understand and benefit from these deals. Many small exporters don't even know about FTAs with UAE and Australia. States should set up export facilitation cells in every district. But first, fix the logistics - our ports and freight corridors are still subpar.
As someone working in a Tier-2 city, I see the gap. Youth here are brilliant but lack access to quality mentors and career guidance. PM's vision needs to reach the grassroots through local colleges and community centres. Maybe NITI Aayog can create a national youth mentorship portal connecting professionals with students in smaller towns? Just an idea 🤔
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.