Youth in India: Situation and Priorities for action Shireen Jejeebhoy, K.G. Santhya, Rajib Acharya Population Council, New Delhi Presentation to the Planning Commission, 16 May 2011 mn Cour ERC moe) Magnitude of the youth population: India: 358 million young people (aged 10-24) in 2011, 30% of India’s population Policies and programmes for youth exist but: * Programme operationalisation handicapped by lack of comprehensive information on youth needs and preferences + Benchmarks not available with which to evaluate programme achievements India’s development depends on the situ: yout + Achievement of Xith Plan targets and MDGs + Population stabilisation * Realisation of the demographic dividend n and experiences of _A? Population CouncileM M Cm ere (ace Chm Cercle + Increase GOP growth from 8% to 10% + Reduce the headcount ratio of consumption poverty by 10 percentage points Education Universal enrolment of 6-14 age group children + Eliminate gender soca and reslonalclspariiesin enronent + Eliminate dlacontination at primary level and reduce discontinuation a elementary eve o 20% + Achieve 80% Iteracy ote Reduce gender gap inliteracy to 10% ‘Gender equality and women’s empowerment "Raise child sex ratio to 935 by 2013-12 and to 950 by 2016-17, + Ensure that atleast 33% of direct and indirect beneficiaries ofall government schemes are women and git ehiléren + Reduce IMR to 28/100 ive births “Reduce MMR to 100/100,000 ive births + Reduce TFRto 2.1 + Reduce malnutrition among children (03 years) to halfits present level ‘+ Reduce anaemia among women and gis by 50% one Cones 24 Popeation Coun ‘Are youth needs met and are youth in India endowed with the skills and resources that would enable the nation to hamess its demographic dividend and meet its goals and targets? + To what extent are youth adequately educated and equipped with the vocational skills needed to compete in a globalised world? * Do youth exhibit the personal competencies that enable them to make informed choices? * Are youth growing up healthy and are they equipped to make informed health related choices? ‘* To what extent do youth participate in civil society? A Population CounTo what extent are youth adequately educated and equipped with the vocational skills needed to elt E DLR Cold he Population Counc Percentage of youth who had never been to school “a dilua. ‘tsa er terkhand”Raasthan Maharashtra Andhra Tami Mad Pradesh semen (1528) Women 35-24) + School enrolment almost universal among young men, but far from universal among young women + 1in 4 young women had never been to school + State-wise differences remarkable Source: WPS and Macro internatinal 2007 A? Population CowTema mele) ‘Just 38% of young men} Completed els 10 and 29% of young «| women had completed Class 10 | i a 2 “Young women andra 6 in youth were particularly Tes van ral disadvantaged seveis2n) a Wones(520) secondary hol completion by economies = Differences by economic 4 | “ sconder atternces oe Lint i ‘evident across all wealth Fist Second Thcd Fourth ith s, except the qintie —quimlle unite. guinale—_guntie wealthiest sr en(5-29) mWomen(5-26) Source: Parsuaman et 2008 2 Population Coun ec a ceca ea Ca ea ec * Gender differences ‘Among thote who had discontinued ther education after leading reasons ‘completing Cass 7 and before competing clas 10 apparent = * The leading reason for ‘and school- related » L » os + Leading reason for Seton Petia bad nen Fone ag women aheer a nena el telated, followed by perception-related, ‘economic and Men (15-24) Women (15-24) Economic related : work on family farm or business, wage housework: related earning wor, family poverty Pereaptions-related: unsafe to send children to school, + 11in7 young women education not necessary, lack of interest ‘School-related: academictallure and dstance to school Housework elated cae of siblings or hourework “Teanstion-related:engagement/marrlage and geting job Population Counc discontinued to marry Source an Population Cound 2010Yom ee elas leo) + LPP rates have fallen for rural wo) » . . youth; not much indication, ~__sF of real increase in urban x] a 7 = areas either ee eel a a + 4.6% of rural youth and 11-g pasar rmseneeneetE te 20% of urban youth nn” ea ams unemployed (available and cones a seeking work but not finding Serco Semen it ) ‘Unemployment year 2004-05 * Gender differences: * Young women much less” likely to be in the LF aaa + Of urban youth aged 20- 24in LF, unemployment — + 1 muchhigrertryeong MME women than men (Sea ered oc eel ae “Scurce: NSSO 2008 AP Population Counc Activity status: Not in school and not working 60 ] “ ” 3 aoe 18 i 6 of . Atage 12 Atage 16 Atage 18 ‘= Men(15-24) m Women(15-24) “Increasing proportions of young women (but not men) were neither in school nor workin; + 18% vs 7% at age 12 + 33% vs 6% at age 16 + 44% vs 6% at age 18 Source: an Popion oun 210 42 Prpiation CouNolo TT ELL sdust 21-25% had attended a vocational ‘training programme ‘Young men more likely than young women to {computer training loa ‘mechanics vs_ ta handicrafts) sne520) eWament62) of tote trate a + Unmet need: about 3/5 artcpating of young men and 2/3 of young women Bs Gender difference in 1 2s training preferences: 5 leading skill tailoring for women, computer =, cope tg traning for men : aten(25-24) = WomeniaS-24) Source: WPS and Population Counc 2010, Population Counc POM Oe ue ue leer] CeCe Rel mL ce) TECH RL RacedDecision-making autonomy: % who made decisions independently on eee eat ene eee More than half of young so Place of residence men and a quarter of young 36 = = women made decisions 7 about everyday life od 27 7 20 ° L__ | + Wide differences by rural- Combined Urban url urban residence and oe educational attainment 0) ° o{ st st i + Even the least educated “| 29 young men were more 20 | Jims 7 likely than the most 4 |_| = educated young women to Noe | 47 aa anand report decision-making above shen (15-28) m Women 15-24) co! Source: PS and Popuatlon Counc 2010 Population Counc its eed “h reporting freedom to. 9% a a ° 5 various places unescorted 6 2a 16 14] Places outside Health feiity s/nelghbourhood Places wit Vilage/neighbourhood vl ‘= Maniad women (15-24) Unmarried women (15-24) m Unmarsied mem (15:24) * Gender differences stark in freedom to move around unescorted + Freedom of movement even within the village or neighborhood not universal among young womenSource 5 ang Population Counc 2010, Pepulation Cowic Sout PS and Poulton Cound 2010, Control over financial resources se Men(t524) a Women(5-28), a) a | eo aan Tams ae = ‘+ Control over financial resources limited among youth + Just one-quarter of men and one-third young women reported any savings ‘+ Although young women were more likely than young men to have savings, they were slightly less likely to own a bank/post of account and far less likely to operate those accounts “Among those who own an account Pate Re RSC CUB Ue mR Late Lory 100 cdida ducing boys and Gieshouldbe ——_Wifeshoulabe No ned for ireequally important involved in levoledinmoney husband's permission marrage ddsions ‘ection Torment ties sven (528) momen 15-28) + Proportion espousing egalitarian gender role attitudes varies by topic * More women than men espouse egalitarian gender roles in each topic > Prpaton CouWU Neate) Violence in marriage: 25% had Women's reports of violence ever experienced —_ physical violence and 32% sexual violence; and for large Proportions, violence was 0 iated early in martiage * 3 *Young women who experience | physical and/or sexual violence are much more likely than others 8 eer to: experience experienced physiol experienced his! vllencesenal + Symptoms of gynaecological violence ‘earn iolenca morbidity (OR : 1.5-2.6) morte vari ite + Unwanted or __mistimed pregnancy (OR 1.2-1.6) * Abortion (OR 1.4-2) Serena ‘+ Pregnancy loss (1.1-1.5) source: 1S and Population Cue 2010, Are youth growing up healthy and are they equipped to make informed Baer Reel esec ey 42 Population Cow + 44-47% of young men and women abnormally thin (BMi<18.5) + 56% of young women and 25% of young men are anaemic * Systematic declines by education levels and household wealth index 20 VT nal status and anaemia a6 Thin ome) Overweight ot obese (MD=25) s2Ment5:24) a Women(1524) feten1524) a women(i5.26) 42. Population Counc 10Sexual and reproductive health 2 Population Cow arital sexual experiences: Extent* * One in 7 young men and « over 4% of young women had | pre-marital sex = + Among the sexually aL experienced, early initiation, multiple partner relations tue of pre mara emi experiences (omong those owl experence) feMen (520) Women (520 + Limited condom use + For 18% of young women, pre-marital sex was forced sn (35.20 avon 58) *tocetofae interview or anonymous fomet (sled envelope. Porter nude romantic porte, forced ‘ev enhonge st cose parte or pourebfore marageond fr yur men ora Poren, 0k ‘order relations ser wth momed women Seurc: Sand Population Cove 2010 2 Pepudation Counc ulMagnitude of early marriage: % of 20-24 year-old women and Ee Rs Rude Ac LS Msc cant Mc * Child marriage 5 ‘Women (20-28) continues among young women: 47% married before age 18 * Decline very gradual: 54% in 1992-93 ‘below age 18 * one in married before 15 (not shown) ‘Very few young men marry <20, but one quarter before the legal minimum age (21) * State-level differences i os inchld mariage I : notable below age 21 pation Cow Involvement of married youth in marriage planning preparedness for married life Parent ver ae Parems everaphed —Evarhad chance to Krew whottoexpectof pinion about whentoget opinion abot spouse mect/uakto spouse rmarieaite onried “shoren before mariage sare men (23) ' Morfes women (15:24) + Almost all youth had an arranged marriage * Large proportions, especially of young women, were not consulted about the timing of marriage or the choice of spouse + Very few youth ~ 15-19% — had a chance to meet their spouse before marriage + Few were aware of what to expect of married life: just 30% of young men and. 22% of young women sours: 15 and Population Coun 2010, 12AMONG THE MARRIED PAE Maas leteevay Use of contraception to delay 169, first pregnancy rare: 10% ” + Nonyse of contraception % 49 I translates into. early ap 10 3 childbearing: 29% of married “9 | _mam_—_, - young — women initiated sect" Fetbieh—Sillad—Theeeor more childbearing before age 18 concanion teteages” stendnee Sen Although the riskiest ages, just 59% reported skilled attendance at first birth ‘of mater deaths taking place among women in Selected age ours arid womera5-24) births too closely spaced: 13% aireatyhad'3 or more ciéren 20 | + Yourg women account for a ™ i major chunk of | maternal 10 | deaths: 2/5 of maternal deaths * married women oged 2024 ae Source: IPS and Macro international 2007; Office of Registrar Genera 2009 “e Population Cow centage of youth reporting that the last pregnancy was fis Re TS “0 | » wl a wy “Hl og ° ststates Sihar_arkhand Rlesthan Maharashtra. Andhra Tami Nady Pradesh f= Married Women (15-24) + 17% young women reported that the last pregnancy was mistimed or unwanted Source 1 a Macro nterations 2007 A? Peyton Cow 13SS ence err errs Pe es + About 10% of = Stand emp fs young men and women reported, symptoms of 10 72 infection a oe | + HIV prevalence: sretis2n) Womens. 20 evident froma pene by ge and sex young age oe “rementive waren Hs ‘Source: Parasuraman et a 2009; 19S and Macro Internationa 2007, 42 Popelation Council Awareness of sexual and reproductive health ee + Contraceptive awareness £5 1 7 universal but indepth £2 x @ = awareness limi gE oo s reness limited yea} al + HIV awareness widespread sone Sees oct ‘among youth; however, sm comprehensive awareness of HIV limited * Knowledge of other STis 5 very limited + Awareness of even basic =, pregnancy related issues ~ limited rig xe] or aga] et “Noe 3830 emer 634 Source: 19S and Population Counc 2010 2 Population Counc 14CTR Te MCMC RCE) A Cle) ‘About 80% youth expressed a need for sexuality ‘education, BUT Tea Te apr * Only 15% of young men and women had received sex education in or outside scraol + <10% parents dlscuss these matters resented erie Crane She cr Aor + leading sources of information are peers and themedia (reseed ae oe 208 | + Considerable hostility towards sexuality education among politicians and others ‘ejya Sabha Committee formed to evolve 0 “oo consensus on the Implementation of the ‘Adolescent Education Programme: ero * Such education “has the gotental to pollute young and impressionable minds by exposing them to indecent materials.” + "There should be no sex education In schools” = Seta as ea Oe carasoasn’ ™” P Prpultion Coun OS ere aun eR ORC eC Ra eee ee ou te ete * Youth who have had sex nvr wane regan education are more likely «ol than others to: ° 3 + Be correctly aware that a z i a woman can become recor decree Re pregnant at first sex Indepth awareness of any cantracepve oe ethod * Have in-depth awareness as of contraceptive methods a + (In pre-marital relations) = CConsistont condom use have practised “ contraception consistently, @ cen -_ sit820) eons) Source: PS 8 Poplin oun 2010 2 Prpuition Councesa eo Rueckert oo etod mi » a » m 0 il i 5 f : - Smrtunion "Condom ora wo contraception ‘2Maried woren(528) nis the leading method used, even among young ‘+ Half of all women practising contraception were sterilised * Non-terminal methods, far more appropriate for the young practised by just half: + 19% used condoms + 14% used OCs + 5% IUD Source: WS and Macro Iterations! 2007, 2 Prpulation Coun eR Rae R «Large proportions ‘Would fet sty approach HCP or contzeaptve of young men and ol “ « women would ” hesitate to procure * 2 contraceptives » from health care providers or pharmacies ehenas26) a Women(is24) co) Receheinfrmation/counsling fom heath care providers + Just 13-14% had received © information or i | counselling from a 23 a health care | _ provider a“ Morne ‘Unrmaed ‘Source: HPS and Population Council 2010 G2 Population Council 16RT Utes ri Pann Ce PT Set mrt *30% young men so eee reported a consumption of tobacco ae *One-fifth of young = *” | men and a few young Coated thn ve women reported that they had consumed 5° Alcohol alcohol « » +Rural-urban «e) 8 » ” differences were ° fa ‘EF f£ Conte’ Uiten ta sitents24)— m Women 8.4) Source; WS and Population Counc 200 2 Population CouNets) 2 Population Con tai tees ke mental health disorders * Mental health Séreportng three or mae symptoms status assessed : using GHQ-12* aw *1in7 young men ~ anwomen : reported responses hans a indicative of mental : omens wens health disorders * Rural-urban - differences narrow ie id aa * Considerable state 7 Uherthané Rajasthan Maharash = “at wise variation seten529) a omentis24 “90 sete (erg 1990: 12 nscale tenet enn af coerce peter Sour San Poplin Cound 2010 2 Population Cou 18AMC ia cia oR ole lea) rl Rei Ed 2 Pepulatin Cou Seurce 5 and Population Cone 2010 seMenft524) a Women(s20 + Only 9-12% youth participated in government/NGO programmes + 45% of young men and 15% of young women pa + Just 60% of young women and 71% of young men had voted + Some disillusionment with political processes + 20-26 (those eligible to vote in the los election} Poe ee ec) ees ren ‘ee ted in community led acthities 2 Population Cun 19Towards a multi-sectoral response G2 Population Counc Ce een rei ned secondary school completion Economic: reduce the cost of education to parents (books, uniform schemes), consider conditional cash transfers for disadvantaged families School level: address access issues (bicycle schemes etc); infrastructure {including toilets for girls); make education more relevant (integration with livelihoods skill building); accountability and training of teacher; accommodate the working child (timings, second chance) Attitudes and perceptions: Promote positive attitudes to schooling and school completion among parents; address negative attitudes to girls’ schooling Premature exit into adult roles: Efforts to delay marriage, explore subsidies and cash transfers linking school retention and delayed marriage > Population Cow 20IT Bele CE tea ett) Vocational skill building: invest in enabling youth to acquire vocational skills for which there is an established demand, and that link eligible youth to market opportunities (Implement the National Skills Development Initiative) Special attention to young women 2 Population Counc Dee eae cu eae ie sae ara sr Life skills education to empower girls and young women: Raise awareness of new ideas, putting information into practice, question gender stereotypes, develop self-esteem, strengthen skills in problem-solving, decision-making, negotiation Safe spaces for young women: Break the social isolation of young women (married and unmarried) by providing legitimate spaces (community programmes, SHG and other groups etc) where they can meet and build social networks and gain peer support Engage young men: Emphasise new concepts of masculinity and femininity, encourage respectful relations with women A? Population Cou 21NCR ee ure) among the youn; Meet Xith Plan targets for reducing anaemia among women and girls by 50% + Explore ways of addressing the nutritional needs of a larger group of girls (eg through KSY/Sabla) + Address household level disparities in feeding practices 2 Portion Co Ensure that young people in and out of school are well informed about sexual and reproductive health End the controversy over AEP and ensure content: + Enables youth to acquire the communication and negotiation skills that facilitate the adoption of safe practices + Ensures that content addresses youth needs Train the trainers: Teacher and trainer sensitisation, dispel the myths they hold, improve communication skills, technical knowledge, non-judgemental attitudes Engage parents: Provide them accurate information, overcome inhibitions about informing adolescent children, especially girls M2 Population Cour 22Realise the commitments of NRHM/RCH2 programme an Breese acer ese ga aes * Bold and imaginative changes in the service delivery structure to make available counseling and SRH services - infection prevention and family planning — to ALL young people — married- unmarried, male-female -- in a non-threatening, non-judgmental and confidential environment * Orient health care providers about the special needs of different youth, about overcoming biases about SRH ser the young; recognise youth vulnerability and their right to SRH services, including contraception + Support newlyweds to postpone the first pregnancy and promote pregnancy-related care if pregnant + Engage boys and young men: services must be inclusive of young men and boys 42 Pepin Cou El ate the practice of early marriage onged efforts to change norms, implement the law, highlight the adverse consequences of early marriage etc: + Community level, including key religious and political leaders * Law enforcement: Ensure greater commitment and action on the part of law enforcement agencies + Parents: Build awareness about laws, sensitise them about adverse consequences + Young people, especially girls: Build awareness of rights, laws, change attitudes, provide girls viable alternatives ~ schooling, livelihood skills building opportunities P Population Cound 23Establish systems that address young people’s Pt etl) * National Mental health Programme needs to address both tural and urban youth + Efforts to screen young people for mental health disorders when they avail of other primary health services and refer those in need AP Pepiation Coun INVEST MORE IN Y Opportunities in the new Youth Policy and the Xiith Plan to focus on youth needs More vigorous implementation of policies and programmes Youth needs span many sectors and call for multi-sectoral responses and inter- sectoral linkages Specific youth focused targets for the Xilth Plan? 24