The elderly should be treated as valuable members of the society

Through changes precipitated by increased longevity and enhanced attention to health, the growth of India’s elderly population–individuals over the age of 60 years—is becoming noteworthy. This pattern is expected to continue for a long time and by 2025, their share would account for 11 per cent of India’s total population. This might not seem much but in absolute terms this number would be quite large. However, this poses a challenge for the economy, especially in view of the shifting socio-economic circumstances including breakdown of the joint family system, migration of men in search of jobs, receding community support, etc. Moreover, the system suffers on account of unequal access to its healthcare services. Although superior quality facilities do exist in our country, only a few among the elderly can avail its benefits. Additionally, inadequate family caregiving is creating its own set of problems. Despite various governmental schemes being in place, they are unable to tackle most problems associated with the elderly due to faulty implementation. On the bright side, their increased lifespan presents scope for utilising them as valuable resources which would also influence economic productivity.

The articles in the current issue of Geography and You on Ageing India focus predominantly on the socio-cultural and economic challenges faced by the older population and proffer hope only occasionally. Authors conclude that the perception of the public and policy makers towards the elderly needs to alter. It is imperative to ensure their overall wellbeing both within and outside the family while simultaneously treating them as valuable members of the society.