Senior citizen social security is still in its infancy. Analyze critically?
According to the Census 2011, India has nearly 8% population having age 60 years or above. Economic Survey 2019 highlights that while India as a whole will enjoy the 'demographic dividend' phase, some states will start transitioning to a to an ageing society by the 2030s, and the share of the elderlRead more
According to the Census 2011, India has nearly 8% population having age 60 years or above. Economic Survey 2019 highlights that while India as a whole will enjoy the ‘demographic dividend’ phase, some states will start transitioning to a to an ageing society by the 2030s, and the share of the elderly in India will continue to rise steadily to nearly double to 16% by 2041.
Challenges faced by the elderly population in India:
- Breakdown of traditional support structures: Increasing nuclearization of families, number of cases of neglect, crime, exploitation, and abandonment of parents and senior citizens are on the rise.
- Psychological problems: These include a feeling of powerlessness, inferiority, depression, uselessness, isolation, etc.
- Inaccessible healthcare facilities: There are gaps in the geriatric medical ecosystem, with limited manpower, ill-developed health infrastructure, lack of insurance, etc. Facilities provided by the government such as old age homes are in dilapidated conditions.
- Lack of social security: A meagre assistance of Rs 200 (up to 79 years) and Rs 500 (above 80 years) is given through Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS).
- Rural-urban disparity: Most of the facilities such as day-care centres, counselling centres etc. are in urban areas and are inaccessible for the elderly population in rural areas. On the other hand, due to the migration of young from rural areas, the relative population of old people is higher in rural areas.
- Feminization of elderly: As per Census data, the sex ratio of the elderly has increased from 938 women in 1971 to 1,033 in 2011 with a predominance of widowed and highly dependent very old women.
Taking into account the demographic explosion among the elderly, the changing economy and social milieu, advancement in medical research, science and technology and high levels of destitution among the elderly rural poor, a National Policy on Senior citizens was adopted in 2011. Other key policy provisions in this context are:
- Income security in old age: To achieve this, financial assistance would be provided through IGNOAPS, food through PDS, concession in tax and loans at reasonable rates. Schemes like Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana (VPBY) and Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) were started in 2017 for the same.
- Healthcare: Efforts would be made to strengthen the family system so that it continues to play the role of primary caregiver in old age. In that direction, Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 is to be strengthened. Also, special programs will be developed for their mental and physical health. Therefore, National Program for Healthcare of Elderly (NPHCE) and Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (2017) has been started.
- Housing: Ten percent of housing schemes for urban and rural lower income segments will be earmarked for senior citizens. Priority is given to families with senior citizens in PMAY. Shelter/old age homes are given grants under the Integrated Program for Older Persons (IPOP).
- Productive ageing: The policy will promote measures to create avenues for continuity in employment and/or post retirement opportunities.
The government should create an environment that provides senior citizens with equal opportunities, protects their rights and enables their full participation in society so that this potential ‘elderly burden’ converts into a ‘longevity dividend’. This will require investments in health care as well as a plan for increasing the retirement age.
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As per the report “Caring for Our Elders” by UNFPA India’s old age population( above 60) would grow from 8.6% in 2011 to 19% ( around 300 million) by 2050. This means India has to ensure healthy ageing with policy measures during this current beneficial period of demographic dividend. Social securitRead more
As per the report “Caring for Our Elders” by UNFPA India’s old age population( above 60) would grow from 8.6% in 2011 to 19% ( around 300 million) by 2050. This means India has to ensure healthy ageing with policy measures during this current beneficial period of demographic dividend. Social security could be said as the legislative or executive measure to support the vulnerable sections of society and is enshrined in Indian Directive Principles of State policy. Article 41 explicitly mentions the need to provide public assistance to the old age. Various initiatives have been taken to provide social security to the Indian senior citizens especially during this period of more Nuclear family and rural-Urban migration.
Major Schemes For Senior Citizens
Many of these schemes have improved the social perception about the need for senior citizen welfare. Also, schemes like IPOP have created an integrated chain of old-age care homes and NGO groupings across India. Creation of SCWF has allowed the utilization of unclaimed deposits of Public Provident Fund for senior citizens welfare. But despite these many schemes the social security of senior citizens in India is well below what’s needed and very much in the nascent stage.
Social Security Of Senior Citizens In Nascent Stage
A recent survey by Agewell Research and Advocacy Centre for the United Nations showed that around 51% of respondents were not satisfied with the overall status of social security schemes for the elderly in India. Around 53% of the elderly find it difficult in utilizing the social security schemes and 79% found these are not sufficient to meet their basic needs, which shows the amateur approach of addressing the old age population.
There needs to be a re-modelling of existing schemes and laws. Old age welfare by social security should not be accorded a peripheral position in the governance sphere and a Centre-state continuous discussion forum is needed. Recent amendments to Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019 is a welcome initiative.
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