India's Demographic Dividend: A Possible Dream

[KarthikSoun]

really! is that what they sold us! all i is see is a blind and false optimism blinding us, just like our cricket team. What part of our demography is going to multiply exponentially? its only the poor, uneducated, rikshaw walla, uneducated part of muslim society, while the educated middle class and rich are only receding.The only demographic divide would be huge young population of poor Vs the moderate population of middle class and small population of rich who will own most of the wealth.

[secretvillage]

You're missing the point.

[lsjtifo]

There is no sense in discussing demographic trends, specifically the higher proportion of younger people in the total population in India, as long as we ignore this section being managed in a manner calculated to maximise benefit for the nation. Right now, as seems from bmkaruppan's argument, the management of the vast human potential in India is far from satisfactory in respect of it (optimized benefit for nation) due to the intrusive and fraudulent practice of democracy.

[lsjtifo]

II. This intrusion comes from the misuse of politicians of all hues and colours to hype up social justice, even as the size of the GDP is so small.

[secretvillage]

If alive, Eric Arthur Blair would have loved to answer that one.

[bmkaruppan]

Frankly, finding it difficult to accept your bland declaration that yesterday's youth, etc. There are certain long term trends which cannot be wished away except by right conceptualization at the right places. Moreover, our democratic structure, imported in all detail, does come in the way of changes for the better. IT IS VERY HIGH TIME WE CHANGE OUR DEMOCRACY NOTIONS AND INSTITUTIONS TO SUIT our NATIVE GENIUS. This needs to be deeply considered. BTW, my best wishes to u all.

[secretvillage]

At 41 yrs of age you don't consider yourself representing the 'present'; may I ask you - What is your contribution towards the nation, apart from paying taxes?

1. Which are those "certain long term trends" and "right conceptualization at the right places"?

2. How is it (according to you) "our democratic structure... come in the way of changes for the better"?

[bmkaruppan]

You are just a college student, and as such you can develop wrong ideas of 'aggressiveness' to mean impolite Be careful so you can achieve your ambitions earlier than otherwise. I consider myself representing the present, and I am contributing not just working mechanically, but with subtlety in my inputs so that my consultancy clients will never regret due to the broader perspective and the big picture in which I put my advice. I needn't elaborate here. (Q above 1 and 2).

[secretvillage]

I was neither polite nor aggressive in my response. I simply asked you to elaborate your own statement in order to get a clear picture of what you meant to say.

There you go - back-tracked.

[bmkaruppan]

You seemed presumptuous to think that I just rest content with paying taxes on income earned less exemptions. I had to explain, thats what I did, not backtracked, per se.

[bmkaruppan]

Q.1 and 2: A democratic structure is in place, with an independent judiciary, election commission, executive and legislature. The various wings are influenced interactively, covertly and overtly, by one another during their supposed independent operation - so democracy is corrupted. Some major changes to be made are stern action to keep off criminals from politics (they form a substantial part of politicians today and resist laws to effect such changes). Elections have become ideologically.

[secretvillage]

Democracy in all its forms strives for a Universal purpose.

Clearly, as you stated above, there needs to be a proactive measure to ward-of criminals from contesting elections. But then again, the Bill would have to be passed by the members of both the Houses. :)

[bmkaruppan]

The desideratum, democracy.. universal purpose,seems enticing. But it gets too vague when we seek to spell it out. Purpose gets blurred into forms (a corrupt democracy with rigged polls and full of moneybags and criminals as leaders should be discarded in favour of a benign dictator even if he be a temporary one until liquidated by jealousy).Universal as an adjective can also lead to homogenisation, which is against nature which venerates diversity. Your other pt.:( bill passing): We only pray.

[sundeepmathur]

Comparing to the total number of voters, how many literates and the people with correct ideas go to vote? It makes me question democracy when I see the masses of people being misguided by politicians during various rallies to villages. Clubbing this with the fact that these politicians are themselves under-educated really boggles me as how come we are growing at a rate of around 6% annually. Running a country is a bigger challenge than running a company. So y choose criminals and illiterates?

[bmkaruppan]

(TYPO) Elections have become a FARCE ideologically since ideologies thart are declared are forgotten for pre and post poll alliances, in the power games of the parties.

Changes in democratic structure and functioning methods need to be made so as to attract proven service oriented people. They must respect our traditions without assuming that they conflict with modernity and secularism. Study Japan and China for modification of the existing system to produce leaders with foresight and vigour

[secretvillage]

"... so as to attract proven service oriented people" - Yes, you're right.

[secretvillage]

3. Which are those "DEMOCRACY NOTIONS AND INSTITUTIONS"? BTW, what changes do you recommend?

Since, almost all your sentences are INCOMPLETE, I do not know what needs to be "deeply considered."

Nevertheless, thank you for your best wishes.

Note: While responding to a COMMENT THREAD use the REPLY link at the top-right of that particular comment.

[bmkaruppan]

You are talking about the sentences I wrote earlier - I don't agree with what u say.U had to think thru what was written to make it brief. The democracy notion that is wrong at least in the Indian context, is that ALL people know what is best for them. The fallacy is that what is good for some individuals need not fit into the collective endeavour and consciousness in the democracy. Even Western democracies are not doing good appreciated by their peoples, since 51% can vote for, 49% against,

[paulkrist44]

a significant proportion of graduates from even mgt. and technology institutes (IIMs, IITs) seems least inclined to address our colossal problems impacting national economy and society, but crazy of not just going and working abroad, but settling there if pos.Our youth is not like the Jap or the Chinese. Neither are there encouraging signs of bringing out innovative technologies or ideas. Just one ex: consumer spending among our youth on a/c.of outsized cars once you get a high paid job !

[secretvillage]

Yes, that's partially true. But one cannot deny that over the years the trend (similar to the one you've mentioned) is gradually taking a reverse turn, not entirely though.

Accept it or not - Yesterday's Youth represent the Present. Today's Youth would represent the Future.

[paulkrist44]

It was a slip when I wrote 'democratic' for 'demographic' (as will my subsequent sentence show)

The obsession with youth popln.figs.can be mistaken, especially visavis the anarchy I indicated, because, in my opinion, a significant proportion of graduates from even mgt. and technology institutes (IIMs, IITs) seems least inclined to address our colossal problems impacting national economy and society, but crazy of going , working and settling there if pos.Our youth is not like Japs or Chinese.

[paulkrist44]

'Democratic dividend' - nice-sounding, even mesmerizing term indeed, perhaps one of the newest in economic jargon! In 15 years, there will be an additionof 20-25 p.c.(rough)to India's already humongous population. Pollution-free technologies as basis of industrialization, will be of paramount need in such an overcrowded lamdscape where there is already nearly unbearable pollution of water, air, land. Obsession with younger age group popln. estimates can blind us to impending anarchy. WARNED!

[secretvillage]

The term is 'Demographic Dividend' and not "Democratic dividend."

According to my estimates, 15 years from now, our population could be around 1.3 to 1.4 billion people.

Yes, we need to try and adopt - innovative and less pollutant technologies; towards a safer and sustainable environment.

What made you say, "Obsession with younger age group popln. estimates can blind us to impending anarchy?"

Thanks for your comment.

[progress069]

India will have a demographic advantage in future only if we invest in infrastructure and development now...so that few years from now there are enough jobs in the country.

We need more educational and vocational training institutes and too of world class quality so that we can take the world by storm.

The best part is that while we wud be at an advantage...couuntries like japan and many countries in europe are heading towards a shortage of young population n we can harness this situation.

[secretvillage]

Yes, that's right - especially in the manufacturing sector.

Taking the world by storm is a distant dream. But we can atleast start by laying a firm foundation thereby having a fair number of educational insitutions that would play a significant role in the intrinsic development of the country and its youth.

Logically, it's not the best part; since Demographic Dividend is a cyclic process.