Aiding India’s Progress with Choice, Control and Capital
India, home to the world’s largest youth population (371 million aged 15–29), stands at a critical juncture where empowering young people — especially adolescent girls — can become a defining force in national progress. Marking World Population Day 2025, the article reaffirms the principles of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD): reproductive autonomy, informed choice, and gender equality.
Despite initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and the National Adolescent Health Programme, challenges such as child marriage, teenage pregnancies, and lack of reproductive freedom persist. NFHS-5 data reveals that while child marriage has declined, it still affects 23.3% of girls, with wide regional disparities.
The article showcases successful grassroots programmes:
- Project Udaan (Rajasthan): Prevented 30,000 child marriages and 15,000 teenage pregnancies by keeping girls in school and ensuring reproductive health access.
- Advika (Odisha): Fostered youth empowerment and declared 11,000 villages child marriage-free.
- Project Manzil: Enhanced female economic agency by skilling 28,000 women, with 16,000 entering dignified, gender-friendly employment.
The authors argue that true empowerment goes beyond health — it must integrate education, economic independence, and social change. They highlight the importance of removing structural barriers such as poor access to education, inadequate childcare, and workplace inflexibility. With rights-based, multi-sectoral investments, India can convert its demographic potential into sustainable development.
Key Points
- Demographic Dividend and Youth Empowerment
- India has the largest youth population; realising its potential requires targeted investments in health, education, skills, and economic opportunities.
- Reproductive Autonomy and Health
- 36% of adults face unintended pregnancies; 30% report unmet reproductive goals.
- Programmes must address gender norms, awareness, access to contraception, and maternal health.
- Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy
- Significant progress made, but regional disparities remain.
- Education reduces child marriage probability by 6% per year of secondary schooling (UNICEF).
- Economic Empowerment of Women
- Female labour force participation is linked to reproductive agency and delayed marriages.
- Project Manzil: Human-centred skilling and employment generation for women.
- Policy Recommendations:
- Rights-based, multi-sectoral approach: combine life-skills, CCTs (conditional cash transfers), workplace reforms, and behaviour change communication.
- Scale successful models like Udaan, Advika, and Manzil.
