‘Need to ensure 9% growth rate'
Lucknow: Renowned economist Prof
on Sunday said that the biggest
that the country faces today is dwindling
.
Delivering the 21st Freda Laski Memorial Lecture at the UP Press Club, Mehrotra said: "The problem is that the number of people in our working age (15-60 yrs) is narrowing down and is likely to be at an all-time low by 2040, which leaves us only 15 years to find a solution.
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"
"The answer lies in creation of more jobs. China can handle its falling demographic dividend only by creating jobs. To do this, we need to create at least 11 million jobs every year," he said.
Admitting that India was the world's fastest growing economy, he said: "We need to ensure rise in
from 5.8% to 9% to achieve our target of Viksit Bharat by 2047."
Former vice-chancellor of Lucknow University Prof Roop Rekha Verma hosted the event.
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