India home to nearly 18% of the world's youth

India is home to approximately 18% of world's youth between 10 and 24 years and 36% of the population is below the age of 15, according to the findings of an international donor agency.

Global Donor Pathfinder International`s Prachar project director S Samraj said in Patna Wednesday that 16% women between the age of 15 to 19 have a child and infant mortality in children born to adolescent mothers was 92.7% compared to 67.6% across all age groups.

He said little importance is paid to a young mother`s health in India and therfore mortality rate is as high as 540 per 100,000 births.

Samraj said more than 30% of young men in Bihar migrate to other places in search of jobs.

"Although HIV infection rate in Sexually Transmitted Infection clinic attendees was currently reported at only 1.2% in Bihar, 35% of all HIV/AIDS cases reported in India were among youths aged between 15 to 24 years due to migration of young men from Bihar," he said.

Prachar project was intended to introduce young couples to the concept of moulding their own lives by working together to build a strong spousal bond and partnership at the beginning, family planning and building a financial base before taking on the responsibilities of childbearing.