In India, the share of elderly living alone or only with a spouse is increasing rapidly. Examine the factors responsible for such rise and discuss the problems faced by them. (200 words)
Refer – The Indian Express
Enrich the answers from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 7 years
KEY POINTS
· The share of the elderly in India living alone or only with a spouse increased from 9 per cent in 1992 to 19 per cent in 2006.
Causes
· Growing life expectancy and lower fertility rates mean an increasing share of elderly in the population, putting additional pressure on a smaller number of children.
· Better economic opportunities mean that children are leaving home earlier than they used to, migrating not to the neighbouring town, but across states and countries.
· Direct or indirect exposure to the Western way of life has given this generation an alternative idea of family responsibility and how to organise care.
Problems faced by them
· Financial hurdles – The GoI in 2007 enacted the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, which made it a legal obligation for children to provide maintenance to parents in the form of a monthly allowance.
· While financial needs are met, social ones remain.
· Nearly half the elderly felt sad and neglected, 36 per cent felt they were a burden to the family.
· Psychological problems – Loneliness has resulted in depression and psychiatric disorders among the elderly persons.
· 43 out of 100 elderly people in India are victims of psychological problems due to loneliness and other relationship issues.
· Unlike most developed countries, emergency response infrastructure for lonely senior citizens is ill-developed in India.
Suggestions
· Strengthening financial inclusion of the elderly, in order to make every individual above the age of 60 financially independent, was important.
· Free health counsellors for those elderly people who are living alone.
· Establishment of a national institute for aged on the lines of AIIMS for treatment and research in age-related ailments.
· Setting up of a national fund for the aged (on the lines of national fund for rural development).
· A national commission for the aged, along with a prime minister’s self-employment scheme for old people, would help in offering gainful engagement opportunities to retired older persons.
Way ahead
· Today there is an urgent need to include elderly-friendly provisions in all governmental schemes and programmes because their lifespan and their share in national population have increased remarkably.
· Ignoring their needs and rights and leaving them unaddressed can pose a great threat to our social development agenda.
Manav 7 years
Kindly review it. Thanks.
IAS Parliament 7 years
Good effort. Try to include psychological problems as well. Vulnerability of elderly women needs to be explained clearly. Keep writing.
