India @ 60

India @ 60 is certainly not a nation which will soon retire like any sarkari babu and live a retired life from pension funds.

India @ 60 is a young nation in many respects. While we are a population of the youngest workforce, we are also quite young at the cultural cross roads and digital divide. We are quite young as far as the thought provoking ideas are concerned; we are also young not to secure a place in UN Security Council. However its not just the glory and glamour of young that will take India to the newer decade, it is also the vested political interests and corrupt legacies which will pose a greater threat in the years to come.

As we celebrate India @ 60, here are some thoughts that needed to be pondered over: § India is the biggest youth market in the world. But employment has not kept pace with the supply of labor. We still have a lot of unemployed youth and at the same time we have a lot of talent crunch. § India's impressive growth rate (for which FM deserves the due credit) happens at the same time as the suicides in Vidharbha and floods in UP, Bihar and Orrisa.

We need to have a balancing act, else the benefits accrued at one end of the spectrum will flow to another end resulting in neutral growth. § India ranks 117th in the World Development Index. Remember this is a list of 187 countries only and there is a lot of work to be done. § The confluence of cultures, society and education is happening, all at the same time. Metros are flooded with International Schools, while there are thousands of students who do not have access to primary education (which is a fundamental right). We are hugging the western culture and values, but neglecting the rich traditional ethos of Indian culture, which still separate us from the rest.

The cultural outsourcing is dominating the youth minds and "cool" has suddenly replaced cultural legacy.

§ As this youth India rides and progresses further in life, there is going to be a huge demand of healthcare and wellness facilities. India is still short of any progress happening in terms of affordable medical and wellness facilities.

§ Media explosion continues to happen, with media becoming more and more eyeball centric rather than issue centric. Indian broadcasters, print and web media need to become more issue centric and become an instrument in the development of nation.

Eyeballs are good, but without body they don’t exist! § Corruption and politics continue to rule the bandwagon of economic progress. It is time that youth of India, jump into politics, and weed out the inefficient, indifferent and corrupt politicians from the system. Unless young and energetic joins the system, all policies and intentions, howsoever good will prevail on paper without much happening on the ground.