– Gender Dividend: Shift family planning beyond female sterilization and encourage shared reproductive health responsibilities between men and women.
– Demographic Dividend: Invest in education, skill development, mental well-being for youth (especially adolescent girls), harnessing opportunities presented by over 250 million young individuals.
– Silver Dividend: prepare for ageing populations by investing in elder care systems like pensions and healthcare while recognizing older adults as contributors to society.
The Population Foundation of India’s call represents a shift in framing population discourse around rights-based approaches instead of fear-driven narratives. With states reflecting diverse demographic needs-from high unmet reproductive requirements in less-developed regions to ageing concerns in southern states-a nuanced policy framework is critical.
Addressing these issues through holistic solutions like empowering youth via skill development or ensuring elder care infrastructure aligns with broad developmental goals and could transform demographic trends into an advantage rather than potential challenges. Centering gender equality as a foundation acknowledges women not merely as beneficiaries but active agents shaping societal progress-this insists on male participation beyond traditional roles.
Policymakers are urged here not onyl to bridge inequalities but also to seize these opportunities strategically with inclusive investments ensuring both social justice and sustained economic growth while navigating long-term transitions.
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