Challenges To Harness India’s Demographic Dividend: Are We on The Right Track? - A Cross Sectional Study in South India

Abstract

Introduction: Currently India’s demographic profile is changing in such a way that in the next 20-25 years we shall be having World’s youngest workforce. In order to reap the benefits of demographic dividend current students have to be interested in vocational education and also have to be physically and mentally healthy. So the current study was designed to assess the perceptions about vocational education and presence of risk factors of non communicable diseases among them. Methods: Cross sectional study conducted among 389 students of selected colleges of Bangalore through convenient sampling technique. Pre tested semi structured questionnaire was administered and analysed in SPSS 17. Results: Only 35.7% had heard of vocational education and 31.9% were interested in pursuing vocational education as their career. Many had developed risk factors for non communicable diseases and few of them were also mentally disturbed. Conclusion: There is a need to create awareness about vocational education among these students. Life style modification and life skill education is the need of the hour among these students.

Keywords

• demographic dividend
• vocational education
• risk factors
• mental health