Ageing in India-Challenges and Issues (original) (raw)
Related papers
Ageing which is a natural process brings a lot of challenges for elderly people, where over time an individual not only experiences a decline in performance but also in productivity and health. Population ageing is an inevitable and irreversible process and along with it brings many economic, health and psychological problems and issues. With increasing age, the process of aging is often associated with declining health, loss of independence, shrinking of social roles, isolation and feeling of loneliness, economic hardship, being labelled or stigmatized as a burden on the family and society, intergenerational conflicts, ill-treatment and abuse, desertion and need of shelter through institutionalized arrangements. If old is not nurtured and given adequate care and support, then it is very difficult to redeem them from their miserable plight. Urbanisation, industrialisation and the ongoing phenomenon of globalisation have cast their shadow on traditional values and norms within society.
Aging Across the India: Problems & Strategies for Coping with Old Age
—Ageing is a universal phenomenon and each human being in the earth undergoes the process of ageing which has its own vibrant, beyond human control. In the human society, ageing is considered as a social occurrence rather than physiological, as ageing is always understood in the background of social environment. Socially, this stage was considered as the sum total of one's lived experiences. Like other social institutions, ageing is also a socially constructed concept and well thought-out as social truth In India, however, all persons who are sixty years or above are included among the aged. The number of aged has increasingly multiplied since 1948, due to the decreased fertility and increased life expectancy rates worldwide (World Bank, 2011). Moreover, the world's old age population (60 years and older) had already marked the figure of 251 million in 1950 and 488 million in 1990. Based upon the data as mentioned previous, a more shocking number i.e. 1,250 million is estimated to be added to this immensity of ageing population by the year 2025 which shows a startling increase of 146 per cent (Global Statistics, 2012) In India old age population (60 years and above) are 10,32,31,265 (8.53%) according to census of India,2011. In a developing country like India, old age has become a serious social issue at the present time.. It is proved that with age, the brain mass decreases and number of brain cells suffers severe turn down. This age related changes have very important worth on functional abilities, in terms of physical, psychomotor, sensory, cognitive, socio-emotional and behavioural functioning are likely to spectator a deteriorating trend as the age advances. The problems become more compound when their children start neglecting them and the elderly people face psycho-social problems and economic & health problems also. A number of factors are contributing to the problems of the aged such as Individualism, urbanization; industrialization and modernization have led to change in the economic constitution, the wearing downhill of societal values, deteriorating of social values, and social institutions such as the joint family. The main objectives of this paper is to address the certain problems of the old age people and highlight some strategies in social work perspectives for coping with old age problems.
AGEING: BURDEN OR CHALLENGE: A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY INDIA (KOLKATA
Oxford University, 2020
In the era of globalization ageing is a vital social problem like other problems in India. Previously, it was not at all a problem, as the social structure was integrated because of bond, tie or kinship system, all members of the society could achieve sufficient infrastructure for their livelihood. But after 17th century or onwards, individualism brought various types of facilities for the people. But at the same time, it brought the deprivation of the family members, and its effect was high or reached to the peak as the globalization started. Because of globalization social structure was rather fragmented and the family, which is the basic unit of all society realized disintegration in long scale.
Elderly in India: An Issue of Importance
Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 2015
The) elderly) population) in) the) world) is) increasing.) The) elderly) in) all) societies) need) special) care) and) attention.) The) United) Nations) General) Assembly) endorsed) the) International) Plan) of) Action) on) Ageing) in) 1982.) The) United) Nations) and) the) World) Assembly)on)Ageing)have)generalized)the)boundary)for)defining)old)age)to)be)60)years.) The) paper) is) based) on) secondary) sources) and) mentions) some) of) the) studies) on) the) ageing) population.) Traditionally,) India) is) a) country) which) had) special) position) for) the) aged)in)the)family.)But,)the)situation)is)slowly)changing.)Transition)is)taking)place)from) joint) to) nuclear) families,) with) the) changing) lifestyle) of) the) people.) DoubleSincome) nuclear) families) are) slowly) making) the) presence) of) the) elderly) redundant) in) their) homes.) The) rising) generation) gap) is) creating) havoc) in) the) family) relations.) They) are) facing) several) forms) of) problems,) which) need) to) be) addressed.) The) paper) tries) to) provide)an)overview)of)the)condition)of)the)elderly.)
Problems of the Aged People in India: An Analysis
2016
The process of economic liberalization led to the emergence of capitalism, division of labour and availability of lucrative opportunities. The market relationships are emphasized with greater importance than emotional ones. Presently, everyone aspires to a rewarding career so they can have a better lifestyle, leaving the earlier caste based familial professions as evidenced by the rapid growth of the professionals in the Indian job market. Simultaneously, the mobility of the people has increased to meet the growing areas of production and services sectors. Therefore, the traditional joint family system is fragmenting, resulting in the formation of nuclear families. On the other hand, double-income-no-kid (DINK) couples are increasingly observed in Indian societies.* 1 Hence, they may experience a higher degree of physical and mental strain in the future. Consequent to the above developments, the older people are experiencing remarkable changes in their physical and socioeconomic circumstances. In smaller families, they are gradually marginalized in the decision-making process. Hence, the family that traditionally took care of the elderly or sick, widows and orphans is beginning to rely on society as a whole.2 1 Prakash Bhattacharya, Implications of an Aging Population in India: Challenges and Opportunities, Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India Presented at the Living to 100 and Beyond Symposium Sponsored by the Society of
Challenges and Alarm for Growing Ageing Population In India: A Review
The phenomenon of ageing is gradually becoming a challenge worldwide, especially for developing countries like India. It is estimated that the elderly population will contribute 19% of the total population by 2050 against the current contribution of merely 8%. This exponential growth in the elderly population is sure to pose some serious socio–economic challenges for India. The burgeoning elderly population in India faces many issues like poor access to healthcare facilities, concern for healthcare, financial insecurity, isolation, domestic abuse, low self-esteem, neglect and idleness. This paper makes as effort to highlight the issues of elderly and their root cause. The various measures needed to be adopted to bring a change in the current miserable state of the elderly. The Government intervention required to reframe the existing policies and bring into new reforms to provide a secure and health life to the people in their golden years. The paper aims to encourage the readers to bring a step forward today, to secure their tomorrow.
Elderly in India -Problems & Prospects
Today Publication, 2018
The 21st century is generally being considered as the „century of the elderly‟ and population ageing is one of the most important global trends of the period. The problems arising out of it have varied implications for developing and developed countries. In India, as a result of the change in the age composition of the population over time, there has been a progressive increase in both the number and proportion of aged people. The proportion of the population aged 60 years or more has been increasing consistently over the last century, particularly after 1951. According to official population projections, the number of elderly persons will rise to approximately 140 million by 2021. As a development concern, the projected increase of the elderly population in India may pose mounting pressures on various socio-economic fronts. Also, elderly population faces a myriad of challenges - social, physical, psychological and economic which are unique to them. It warrants greater attention to ageing-related issues and for economic and social policies to become elderly friendly. To create opportunities for positive aging, there is a need for understanding elderly persons on various aspects and to initiate policy and programme debates about ageing in India. In this context, a national conference on „Emerging Challenges of Elderly: Implementation of Programme and Policy Making‟ was organized by the Department of Social Work (Aided), Madras School of Social Work, Chennai in collaboration with ASTRA- Social Work Forum of the Department. The conference was sponsored by the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. This edited volume of the book, published as the outcome of the conference, contains empirical papers, case studies and conceptual papers. These are included in five different domains namely Ageing: Issues and Challenges, Ill Health and Well Being of Elderly, Aging in Institutions, Social Policies and Programmes for Elderly, and Positive Ageing: Outlook and Approaches. The book will help to identify the emerging areas of key concern in elderly care and protection. It has high relevance to government departments, policy planners, educationists, researchers, social workers, parents, children and especially for those elderly who fight for their rights and privileges.
Muse on Aging India: A Cursory Study on the Problems of Old People
Desh Vikas Journal , 2024
Hardly had I started to ponder over the theme of the present article when a prominent English daily extended me an invitation for “Explained Live: Why is India Aging So Fast?” to interact with a demographer, Srinivas Goli, on 26 October 2024, on an online platform. This program enabled and encouraged me to pen the present article, which is based on my periodic visits to various old-age homes in and around Gandhinagar district of Gujarat and interactions with aged people. The write-up reflects the author's determination to carry out an in-depth study on the socio-economic dynamics associated with India’s growing population of senior and super-senior citizens. The researcher observed a few problems among senior citizens i.e. health problems, decreasing immunity. Common ailments among the elderly include fluctuating blood pressure, muscular pain, deficiency of micronutrients (B12, calcium), arthritis, ophthalmic issues, insomnia, dysuria, dyspepsia, anxiety, auditory issues, cardiac problems, respiratory diseases, dermatological issues, and senile debility. These physical ailments often lead to psychological complications. The senior citizens are also facing psychological problems and societal problems. The author concluded that “An old-age home with basic amenities is a better alternative than a joint family setting where elderly parents are forced to live a life filled with misery” A multi-faceted strategy is essential to combat the challenges of aging in India. It is crucial to create a harmonious society where old and young generations live together happily”.
Deprevation and vulnerability among elderly in India
2011
Changing age structure is one of structural change that witnessed in the last century. Population ageing is one of its consequences, which emerges as a global phenomenon in the present day. It is generally expressed as older individuals forming large share of the total population. This process is considered to be an end product of demographic transition or demographic achievements with a decline in both birth and mortality rates and consequent increase in the life expectancy at birth and older ages. The Indian aged population is currently the second largest in the world to that of china with 100 million of the aged. The absolute number of the over 60 population in India will increase from 77 million in 2001 to 137 million by 2021. Population Ageing is profound, having major consequences and implications for all facets of human life. In the economic area, population ageing will have an impact on economic growth, savings investment and consumption, labor markets, pensions, taxation an...