Page 29 - Shelter, October 2024

THEME PAPER

ENGAGING YOUTH IN INDIA’S URBAN
FUTURE

A. K. Jain The paper attempts to link the in 2023. India aims to be a
theme of the World Habitat high-income country by the
Day 2024 ‘Engaging Youth to centenary of its independence
Create a Better Urban Future’ in 2047. According to the
with India’s Urban Vision 2047 paper being a youthful nation,
and Union Budget’s Incentive the working age population
Linked Employment Scheme would be around 112 crores,
(2024-25) towards making India making it the single largest
a developed nation. This requires workforce of any nation (TOI,
understanding the needs of the 28th July 2024).
youth beyond physiological and
economic necessities, but also India’s Urban Future
realisation of their full potential As India experiences
by security, sense of belonging, demographic shift, along with
esteem, and self-development.
changing social dynamics
According to India’s National and technological advances,
Youth Policy of 2014, the the youth population has
term “youth” refers to people a very significant role in
between the ages of 15 and the country’s urban future.
29. In 2021, India’s youth India is moving towards a
population is estimated to be developed economy by the
37.14 crores, or about 27.3% of year 2047 and urbanisation
the country’s total population will be its backbone. The cities
which stood at 1,407,563,842. shall be the crucible of ideas,
The average age of an Indian investments, and innovations.
is 29 years, as compared to 37
for China and 48 for Japan. In 2047 India will have a
According to the vision paper population of 1,640 million,
for Viksit Bharat in 2047 the i.e. one- sixth of world’s
GDP of India would grow population surpassing China?
from $ 3.3 trillion to 36 trillion. Its urban population is
This means sustain growth in projected to increase from 377
A. K. Jain Retd. Commissioner (Planning), the range of 7 to 10% for 20 to million (2011) to 820 million in
Delhi Development Authority. Member
of the Committee of the Ministry of 30 years. World Bank defines 2047. It will have the world’s
Housing and Urban Affairs on the DDA high income countries are largest workforce and will
(2015) and UN Habitat (2007-12). Visiting
faculty at the HSMI and other institutes. those who’s annual per capita be the world’s third largest
ak. jain6@gmail. Com income is more than $ 14,005 economy of $36 trillion. It is

October, 2024, Volume 25. No.1 - SHELTER 27