The Rural Elderly in India

Special Articles / K. Visweswara Rao / Old Age in an Indifferent Society

In demographic terms, the 20th century was a century of population growth and the 21st century would be century of aging. The composition of age structure has been changing in India after independence and there is a steep increase in the elderly population. The percentage of child population below 14 years showed a substantial decline from 38.9 % to total population and would further decrease to 19.7 % by 2050 whereas the population of the elderly (60 +) will grow sizably  from 5.6 %, in 1950 to 20.6 % by 2050. However, regional variations are found in population of elderly as in 11 states/union territories of India such as Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and others have more than the national average (7.5%). With the rapid changes in the social scenario and the emerging prevalence of nuclear family set-ups in India in recent years, the elderly people are likely to be exposed to emotional, physical and financial insecurity in the years to come. This has drawn the attention of the policy makers and administrators at central and state governments, voluntary organizations and civil society (Central Statistics Office, 2011).

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