As Odisha gears up to celebrate its birth centenary in 2036, the Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD) here on Thursday hosted the 4th edition of the biennial Odisha Vikash Conclave (OVC) on the theme 'Transformative Odisha @2036: Demography and Development.’
Professor Emeritus Amitabh Kundu highlighted that the demographic transition began in Odisha in 1992-93. The population growth rate of Odisha, which was below 10% during the last decade (2011-2021), has consistently declined compared to the national level. Previously, Odisha's population, representing 4% of India's total, has now reduced to 3.5%, he added.
Odisha’s present fertility rate is 1.8. It is expected to further reduce to 1.2 in 2036. This apart in three districts – Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Kandhamal the demographic transition will be higher that is expected to exceed two indicating a significant regional inequality in demographic transition by 2036, Professor Kundu pointed out further.
Government policies and schemes need to be aligned to tackle the challenges posed by demographic transition, with a greater emphasis on social security support, he emphasized.
As the State's aging population is projected to reach 17% by 2036, Odishs has a unique opportunity to harness the potential arising from demographic transition, co-founder and mentor of CYSD Jagadananda pointed out.
“This dividend can be tapped in two ways: first, the Gender Dividend, which involves utilizing the untapped potential of the aging female population; and second, the Silver Dividend, which entails leveraging the knowledge and expertise of older individuals," he added.
To effectively utilize their knowledge and expertise, there should be policy-level changes to provide employment to older people aged over 60 years. Because, even after retirement, many of these individuals are still efficient in handling responsibilities effectively, Jagadananda added.
Chief Advisor (Special Initiatives) at the Office of the Chief Minister Dr R Balakrishnan maintained that the Odisha budget outlay has leaped from Rs 1 crore in 1936 to Rs 2 lakh crore now, indicating steady economic progress in the State. He underscored that Odisha’s development model is equity-based and inclusive, striving to reach the last mile individuals.
Andrea Wojnar, Country Head of UNFPA, underscored that UNFPA will continue to support CYSD in conducting intensive research on new themes related to demography and development.
Held under the aegis of Odisha Development Initiative (ODI), a coalition of stakeholders advocating transformative development, the conclave also shed light on five critical areas of demographic transformation in Odisha. The areas include Aging Population, Migration and Urbanization, School Education, Youth, Skilling, and Employment, and Health and Nutrition, each discussed in separate tracks.
The track Migration and Urbanisation highlighted Odisha’s Migration Census where outmigration from Odisha was higher than total in-migration between 2001 and 2011. However, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2020-21 data indicates a positive net migration rate of 0.74%, suggesting increased migration to Odisha.
The track - School Education highlighted that as per population projection there would be fewer children (6-14 years old) but more young people (20 and above), so we need to carefully plan while opening new schools and invest more in higher education.
Similarly, in the Nutrition and Health track, attention was drawn to the technical group projection report of the Census of India (2020). According to the report, the child population of Odisha is estimated to decrease from 9% in 2011 to 6% in 2036. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of the State, reported as 34 in 2019-21, is anticipated to decrease to 20 by the end of the period 2031-35.
