Tuesday, September 6 2005 10:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Coimbatore: Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram yesterday (Sept 5, 2005) said India could emerge as an economic power in 25 years as the country would have the demographic advantage with increase in the working age group in the next 15-20 years.

At present the country's working age group was 15-64 years and constituted 64 per cent of the population, while children and senior citizens accounted for 36 per cent, he said at a function here last evening.

After 15-20 years, the working age group population would go up in the country, while most of the Western countries, including China, would have more senior citizens than the working age group, he said.

Predicting that India would have about 82 crore working age group population by 2015, he said, if they were given good education, good health, skilled and productive power, the country would become a leader in world economy.

He was speaking at the 81st birth anniversary celebrations of renowned educationist, Chandrakanthi Govindarajulu and the Golden Jubilee of PSGR Krishnaammal College for Women.

Observing that education had become a business, he said, the Government wanted to provide more opportunities to the aspiring students.