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Report released by Ministry of Health & family welfare provides insights into interventions where investments on adolescents will yield high returns.
Key Highlights
- India has largest adolescents (aged 10-19) population (253 million) in world.
- Adolescent mortality rate fell by >50% & adolescent fertility rate declined by 83%(2000-2019)
- Young people completing secondary school has more than doubled from 22% (2005) to >50% (2020).
- 22.7% rise in fatal road accidents for adolescents under 18 has been observed (2021- 2022).
- Suggested Interventions are expected to boost Indian economy by 10.1% of annual GDP.
Issues faced by Adolescents
- Health: Unplanned pregnancies, malnutrition & mental disorders (depression and anxiety)
- Education and Employment: Stagnant learning, Unemployment(due to emerging technologies e.g. AI)
- Child marriage: Although girls getting married before 18 has declined by over half (2006-2024), 1 in 3 of world’s child bride live in India.
- Violence and injury: Prevalence of road accidents, self-harm & suicide.
Interventions required
- Schools in underserved areas, improved pedagogy, merit based scholarships for better learning outcomes
- Prevention and treatment of common mental disorders, cyber bullying, interpersonal violence for improved adolescent health.
- Impart life skills and transfer payments to girls, changes in cultural and social norms to curb child marriage
- Graduated licensed schemes to curb injury to adolescents.
India’s Initiative
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