Population Foundation of India study finds that an additional year of education increases average income by 6.7 per cent

The study also estimates that about Rs 8,134 crore would be needed to establish mental health facilities for adolescents over six years
Representative Image | Pic: Pixabay
Representative Image | Pic: Pixabay

Every additional year of education in India increases a person’s average income by about 6.7 per cent, according to a new study that also noted that this return is higher for girls than boys. "Each additional year of education yields an 8.6 per cent increase in women’s monthly wages, while for men the number stands at 6.1 per cent,” it said. The study was commissioned by the NGO Population Foundation of India to highlight why the government needs to invest in young people’s health, education and well-being.

The study also found that every rupee invested towards the completion of school education is expected to bring an economic benefit between Rs 4.5 and Rs 8.2 in terms of future earnings of each individual. The study pegs the total cost of establishing adequate mental health facilities for adolescents at Rs 8,134 crore over the next six years. According to the findings, another Rs 2,745 crore would be needed per year to cover the treatment costs. It projects that the cost of providing iron and folic acid tablets to school-going adolescent boys and girls and out-of-school adolescent girls would cost roughly Rs 3,000 crore per year.

Speaking on mental health issues faced by adolescents, the PM’s Economic Advisory Council Chairman Bibek Debroy said that there was a serious lack of data given that most cases are under-reported due to the stigma around such problems. He also talked about the need to act fast to realise India’s demographic dividend. “Beyond 2035, or thereabouts, India will begin to age. Even more important is that we get our policies on these people who are entering the labour market right,” said Debroy, who released the study on Monday, November 15.

Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of Population Foundation of India, stressed the need for collaborative action between various arms of the government and civil society organisations to work towards adolescent development.

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