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
