India Ageing Report

                                                         India Ageing report                      

The challenges relating to Ageing  in India are Declining Fertility Rates, Increased Life Expectancy, Improved health  and a reduction in mortality rates, migration, increasing healthcare burden/ Financing the Healthcare , social isolation , increasing dependency ratio, elderly abuse, Poor health infrastructure,

UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) India, in collaboration with the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), released , India Ageing Report 2023 In September.

The observations from the report are :

India's elderly population is predicted to double to 20.8% by 2050, with the number reaching 36% by the end of the century.

As per the report, there were 149 million persons aged 60 years and above in 2022 (as of 1 July), comprising around 10.5% of the country’s population.

By 2050, this population will double to 20.8%, with the absolute number at 347 million. By the end of the century, the elderly will constitute over 36% of the total population of the country, the report predicted.

An analysis of their work, pension, and income status indicates that 18.7% elderly did not have any income. This proportion was above the national level in 17 states, ranging from 19.3% in Uttarakhand to 42.4% in Lakshadweep.

Currently, India has one of the highest populations of adolescents and young people in the world with 65% of Indians under 35.

There was a spending of Rs.1259.6 billion on the elderly under Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives from 2014 to 2021, an increase of 182% in seven years.

 

Since 2014, CSR spending on senior citizens' welfare has remained less than 0.3% of total spending despite a 516%, from ₹89 million to ₹551 million, in the last seven years.

There is a need for  enhancement of geriatric care to cater to the unique healthcare needs of seniors.

There are several government schemes and policies addressing the health, financial empowerment, and capacity building needs of the elderly population. The report details all the schemes by Indian Government to help the Seniors including the investment options.

In India, Community-based organizations are actively engaged in digital empowerment through computer and internet usage sessions.

Different Ministries in India, are dedicated to formulating policies for elderly welfare.

There are Corporate efforts for creating favourable conditions for joyful aging, social assistance, old age homes, and elder abuse awareness campaigns.

Challenges facing India’s ageing population are the feminisation and ‘ruralisation’ of older population, and going forward policies have to  be formulated as per the emerging Needs.

Women, on an average, have a higher life expectancy at the age of 60 and 80 when compared with men

The population of people aged 80+ years will grow at a rate of around 279% between 2022 and 2050 with a predominance of widowed and highly dependent very old women. 

With the decadal growth rate of the elderly population of India currently estimated to be at 41%, and the percentage of elderly population in the country is projected to double to over 20% of total population by 2050.

By 2046 it is likely that elderly population will have surpassed the population of children (aged 0 to 15 years) in the country.

More than 40% of the elderly in India are in the poorest wealth quintile, with about 18.7% of them living without an income.

Such levels of poverty will affect their quality of life and healthcare utilisation.

In Himachal Pradesh and Kerala, women at 60 years have a life expectancy of 23 and 22 years, respectively, which is four years greater than men at 60 years in these States — as compared to the national average differential of only 1.5 years.

Life expectancy of women at 60 years is greater than 20 years in States such as Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, raising concerns about their social and economic well-being, the report said.

The sex ratio (females per 1,000 males) among the elderly has been climbing steadily since 1991, with the ratio in the general population stagnating. Between 2011 and 2021, the ratio increased in India as a whole and across all regions, barring the Union Territories and western India.

In the northeast and the east, while the sex ratio of the elderly increased, it remained below 1,000 in both years, indicating that men still outnumber the women in these regions even at 60-plus years..

In central India, the sex ratio went up from 973 in 2011 to 1,053 in 2021, indicating that the women caught up with and outperformed the men in survival after 60 years over the decade.

Poverty is inherently gendered in old age when older women are more likely to be widowed, living alone, with no income and with fewer assets of their own, and fully dependent on family for support.

Major challenges facing India’s ageing population are the feminisation and ruralisation of this older population and that policies must be designed to suit their specific needs.

There was a significant inter-State variation in absolute levels and growth (and hence, share) of the elderly population as well, reflecting the different stages and pace of demographic transition across States.

Most States in the southern region and select northern States such as Himachal Pradesh and Punjab reported a higher share of the elderly population than the national average in 2021, a gap that is expected to widen by 2036.

States which are reporting higher fertility rates and lagging in demographic transition, including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, expect to see an increase in the share of the elderly population between 2021 and 2036, the level will remain lower than the Indian average.

 Compared with southern and western India, central and northeastern regions have the younger group of States as indicated by the ageing index..

 In the southern region, the old-age dependency ratio (elderly people per 100 people between 15 and 59 years) was higher than the national average at around 20 as is true of western India at 17. Overall, Union Territories (13) and the north-eastern region (13) reflected lower old age dependency ratios.

Both the Central government and state authorities took care of the needs of elderly people during the Covid-19 pandemic based on experiences of older people.

Most seniors said they received state aid, this was not enough; that there were no accessible public healthcare facilities; and that nobody except NGOs or CBOs (community-based organisations) helped them.

There has to be a  special focus on older persons in disaster-preparedness plans that are formulated henceforth.

There is a lack of credible data on various issues related to the elderly in India and more could be done by including questions on relevant and emerging issues related to older persons in the upcoming data collection exercises of the National Sample Survey, the National Family Health Survey, and the Census of India, respectively.

The government must work on increasing awareness about schemes for older persons, bring all Old Age Homes under regulatory purview and focus on facilitating in-situ ageing to the extent possible.

The government should encourage the creation and running of elderly self-help groups, and stressed the importance of having elderly people live in multigenerational households.

Government should create short-term care facilities like creches or day-care facilities, citing better care when elderly people live with their respective families.

From the report, it appears that India’s population will be still younger compared to China, Indonesia ,etc. In the light of the report , we have to different action plans for managing the Aging Society and many action plans were discussed in the report.

We also claim, we have the Demographic dividend, which if we use constructively will pay big dividends. If the young talents are utilised properly, it can have negative effects on the Economy.

In conclusion, India's aging population is a complex and multifaceted issue that presents both challenges and opportunities. As the elderly population continues to grow, it is essential for India to develop comprehensive policies and systems that address the healthcare, economic, and social needs of the elderly. Healthcare innovation, social inclusion, and family support can all play a crucial role in improving the lives of the elderly. It is also essential to learn from the experiences of other countries facing similar demographic shifts and adapt policies and practices to suit India's unique cultural and social context. With the right strategies and investments, India can ensure that its aging population leads dignified and fulfilling lives, contributing to the overall well-being and development of the nation