Lok Sabha Question No. 2249 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Demographic Dividend
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: Kaushalendra Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2249 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## DEMOGRAPHIC DIVIDEND

## 2249.  SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that India is the only major country in the world which would be enjoying dessert of demographic dividend in the coming years;
- (b) if so, whether  the  Government  proposes  to  utilize  the  human  capital  to adequately  invest  the  demographic  dividend  towards  the  national  growth  and prosperity of its population; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  rope  in  the  rural  and  the  remote  area population through skill development towards the progress of the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) India is in the position of having the youngest population amongst the most populous countries in the world for at least the next decade and perhaps for two decades.  This is  often regarded as a demographic dividend as the working age population ratio to those that need to be supported is very high.  However, it is to be noted that without the  right  conditions  of  education  and  gainful  employment  these  demographics  may not provide the expected dividend.
- (b) The Government has taken various steps for generating employment in the country like  encouraging  private  sector  of  the  economy,  fast  tracking  various  projects involving substantial investment. Schemes  like Prime Minister's  Employment Generation  Programme  (PMEGP),  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) and National Urban Livelihood Mission (DAYNULM).  Pradhan  Mantri  MUDRA  Yojana  and  Startup  India  are  also  being implemented by the Government for facilitating employment. Besides these initiatives, flagship programmes of the Government are also contributing to generate productive employment opportunities. Ministries/Departments/States run skill development schemes across various sectors to improve the employability of youth

and also facilitate placements. Schemes  such  as the National Apprenticeship Promotion  Scheme  (NAPS)  wherein  Government  reimburses  25  percent  of  the stipend  payable  to  apprentices  also  enhances  employability  of  the  youth  to  access employment.

- (c) Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (2016 - 2020) is the flagship outcome-based Skill  Training  Scheme  of  the  Ministry  of  Skill  Development  &  Entrepreneurship (MSDE) which aims to train 10 million youths by 2020 pan India including Rural and Urban areas. MSDE does not maintain any segregated data for rural and urban areas. There are three training routes under the scheme: Short term Training (STT) for fresh skilling  of  school  /  college  drop  outs  and  unemployed  youth,  Recognition  of  Prior Learning  (RPL)  to  recognize  the  existing  skills  and  Special  Projects  to  address skilling  requirements  of  groups  which  are  underrepresented  or  require  special initiatives and efforts. RPL only provides orientation to the already skilled workforce, and  does  not  mandate  placements.  Total  of    33,29,328  candidates  under  STT, 1,62,616  candidates  under  Special  projects  and    33,20,021  candidates  under  RPL have  been  trained  as  per  Systematic  Data  Management  System  reports  up  to 17.01.2020.  Ministry of Rural Development is implementing Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen  Kaushalya  Yojana  (DDU-GKY),  a  placement  linked  skill  development program for rural poor youth under National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) all over  the  country.  During  the  year  2019-20  (up  to  31st  October,  2019)  1,  27,918 candidates have been provided training. (Source: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship)

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