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Perspectives on Old Age in India

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Contemporary Demographic Transformations in China, India and Indonesia

Part of the book series: Demographic Transformation and Socio-Economic Development ((DTSD,volume 5))

Abstract

The elderly population of India is projected to increase to about 300 million by 2050. Families, the traditional source of support for the elderly in India, are getting smaller as result of reduction in fertility and, in rural areas, due to migration. Changing norms and attitudes on intergenerational relations and filial piety have the potential to weaken traditional social and family support structures that the elderly depend on. As institutional and welfare support systems are lacking in India, changes to the family and social support structures will have serious implications for ageing in India. The demographic, economic, family and health perspectives presented in this chapter reveal some of the complexities of ageing in India. They show that the nature, type and direction of support between the generations depends on the situation and resources of both parents and children, embedded within the wider social and cultural values of support and care, and the expectations and meanings attributed to these values. The perspectives presented also raise important questions about the relationships, roles and responsibilities of individuals, families and the state.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    60 and above has been used by researchers and the Indian Government as a marker of old age. The National Policy on Senior Citizens 2011 categorically states “All those of 60 years and above are senior citizens.” It should, however, be recognized that there is nothing sacrosanct about the age 60 or using chronological age based on number of years lived. Population ageing could also be measured using number of years remaining or prospective age. The words ‘senior citizens’, ‘elderly’ and ‘aged’ are used interchangeably in this chapter.

  2. 2.

    Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS), 2005–2006, a nationally representative sample survey, interviewed about 40,000 households and collected information on variety of topics including demographic characteristics of all household members (Data available from ICPSR: http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR22626.v8).

  3. 3.

    Building a Knowledge Base on Population Ageing in India (BKPAI), 2011, a survey of elderly in seven states – Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal – interviewed about 8329 household and 9852 elderly residing in these households (BKPAI 2012).

  4. 4.

    There are more men aged 60 and above compared to women; but, women aged 60 and above are more likely to be widowed than men. More elderly men than women is in contrast to the pattern of more elderly women seen in most countries. Excess female mortality at younger ages meant that until the 1990s life expectancy at birth for females was lower than males. There also might be underreporting of older women (Rajan et al. 2003; Visaria 2001).

  5. 5.

    Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), pilot round, 2010, was conducted in four states – Rajasthan, Punjab, Kerala and Karnataka – and surveyed about 1500 people. The analysis presented here is based on individuals aged 60 and above (N = 583).

  6. 6.

    The scheme, formerly known as National Old-Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS), was introduced in 1995, paid Rs. 75/month to destitute elderly with no adult son. The scheme was renamed in 2007 and eligibility age raised to 65 and cash increased to Rs. 200/month. The scheme was revised again in 2011 with eligibility age lowered to 60 and cash for those above 80 increased to Rs. 500/month. Some state governments provide additional money on top of the Rs. 200 provided by the Central Government.

  7. 7.

    Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme started in 2009 provides widows age 40–59 and living below the poverty line Rs. 200/month.

  8. 8.

    Disease profiles of the elderly indicate that about half of the profile is due to communicable diseases, 40 % due to non-communicable diseases and the rest due to accidents and injuries (Kowal et al. 2012).

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Acknowledgement

I would like to thank Mr. Deepan Kaleselvan for his excellent research assistance in preparing this chapter.

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  1. Division of Sociology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 14 Nanyang Drive, 637332, Singapore, Singapore

    Premchand Dommaraju

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  1. Institut de Recherche pour le Développem, Paris, France

    Christophe Z. Guilmoto

  2. School of Demography, Australian National University, Canberra, West Australia, Australia

    Gavin W. Jones

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Dommaraju, P. (2016). Perspectives on Old Age in India. In: Guilmoto, C., Jones, G. (eds) Contemporary Demographic Transformations in China, India and Indonesia. Demographic Transformation and Socio-Economic Development, vol 5. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24783-0_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24783-0_19

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