Roadmap for Answer Writing
1. Introduction (50-60 words)
Start by briefly introducing the topic and its relevance, highlighting the growing elderly population in India and the unique challenges faced by elderly women due to the intersection of ageing and gender.
- Fact: “By 2050, the number of older women in India will exceed the number of older men by 18.4 million” .
- Fact: “Elderly women have a higher life expectancy than men, contributing to the feminisation of ageing in India”.
2. Identification of Key Issues (80-100 words)
List and briefly explain the key issues of social alienation, financial dependency, health deprivation, and abuse that elderly women face, with specific reference to India. Ensure the problems are contextualized within the broader ageing process, acknowledging the gender-specific challenges.
- Social Alienation: Widowhood and family migration lead to isolation.
- Fact: “2.8 million senior women in rural areas and 9% of elderly women in urban areas are living alone” .
- Financial Dependency: Low participation in the workforce and lack of savings leave elderly women economically vulnerable.
- Fact: “Only 10% of elderly women in rural areas and 11% in urban areas are economically independent” .
- Health Deprivation: Elderly women suffer from higher rates of chronic diseases.
- Fact: “More than 30% of elderly women in India suffer from at least one chronic morbid condition”.
- Susceptibility to Abuse: Higher rates of physical, emotional, and financial abuse among elderly women.
- Fact: “The Longitudinal Ageing Study in India shows higher abuse rates among elderly women” .
3. Detailed Measures to Address the Issues (150-200 words)
In this section, present a set of detailed, practical measures to tackle each issue. Highlight government schemes, legal frameworks, community-based solutions, and the need for greater gender-sensitive policies.
- Economic Empowerment & Social Protection:
- Expand and enhance the National Widow Pension Scheme to provide a stable income to elderly women.
- Fact: The scheme should be more transparent and accessible, especially in rural areas where economic independence is lower.
- Increase female workforce participation through job creation and skill-building initiatives tailored for elderly women.
- Fact: “Only 10% of elderly women in rural areas are economically independent”.
- Expand and enhance the National Widow Pension Scheme to provide a stable income to elderly women.
- Improving Healthcare Access:
- Strengthen the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE), focusing on elderly women’s specific needs, including chronic diseases and geriatric care.
- Implement targeted health insurance policies for elderly women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families to ensure financial accessibility to healthcare.
- Fact: More than 30% of elderly women suffer from chronic diseases like arthritis, diabetes, etc.
- Social Inclusion & Support Networks:
- Promote Elderly Self-Help Groups (ESHGs) for social interaction, skill development, and community support, combating social isolation.
- Facilitate intergenerational care programs to bridge the gap between elderly women and younger generations.
- Legal Safeguards and Awareness:
- Strengthen the implementation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act (MWPSC), 2007, and increase penalties for neglect or abuse.
- Create awareness programs about legal rights for elderly women, especially regarding inheritance and maintenance laws.
- Fact: “Only 9% of elderly women know about the MWPSC Act”.
- Capacity Building and Digital Literacy:
- Increase digital literacy programs to help elderly women access welfare schemes, healthcare services, and legal support.
- Fact: “Over 95% of elderly women are digitally illiterate, hindering their access to welfare schemes”.
- Increase digital literacy programs to help elderly women access welfare schemes, healthcare services, and legal support.
4. Conclusion (40-50 words)
Conclude by emphasizing the need for a gender-sensitive approach in addressing the challenges faced by elderly women. Highlight the importance of integrating these concerns into public policy to ensure the dignity and well-being of elderly women, in line with India’s commitments to the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.
- Fact: India is a signatory to the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA), which calls for policies that address the needs of the elderly, particularly women.
Key Facts and Their Sources
- Feminisation of Ageing: “By 2050, the number of older women in India will exceed the number of older men by 18.4 million”.
- Social Alienation: “2.8 million senior women in rural areas and 9% of elderly women in urban areas are living alone” .
- Financial Dependency: “Only 10% of elderly women in rural areas and 11% in urban areas are economically independent” .
- Health Deprivation: “More than 30% of elderly women in India suffer from at least one chronic morbid condition” .
- Susceptibility to Abuse: “The Longitudinal Ageing Study in India shows higher abuse rates among elderly women” .
- Legal Awareness: “Only 9% of elderly women know about the MWPSC Act”.
- Digital Illiteracy: “Over 95% of elderly women are digitally illiterate”.
- International Commitment: India is a signatory to the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA).
Model Answer
Introduction
Elderly women in India face significant challenges, including social alienation, financial dependency, health deprivation, and susceptibility to abuse. Gender plays a crucial role in these issues, and addressing them requires a multifaceted approach.
1. Social Alienation
Social exclusion is a major issue for elderly women in India, particularly following widowhood or the migration of younger family members. According to a NITI Aayog report, 2.8 million senior women in rural areas and 9% of elderly women in urban areas live alone, contributing to their isolation. Strengthening social support networks is essential. Community-based initiatives like Elderly Self-Help Groups (ESHGs) can provide spaces for social interaction and skill development, thus reducing alienation.
2. Financial Dependency
Financial dependency is another pressing concern. Many elderly women, particularly in rural areas, lack economic independence. The National Statistical Office (NSO) 2020 data reveals that only 10% of rural and 11% of urban elderly women are financially independent. To address this, expanding the National Widow Pension Scheme and ensuring transparent disbursement can provide crucial financial support. Additionally, increasing female workforce participation can help empower elderly women economically.
3. Health Deprivation
Health issues among elderly women are a significant concern, with more than 30% suffering from chronic conditions. To improve healthcare access, it is essential to strengthen the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly, with a focus on non-communicable diseases, and prioritize health insurance for older women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
4. Susceptibility to Abuse
Elderly women are more susceptible to physical, emotional, and financial abuse. The Longitudinal Ageing Study in India highlights these issues. Strengthening legal frameworks like the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act (MWPSC), 2007, and increasing penalties for offenders can help protect elderly women.
5. Awareness and Capacity Building
Increasing awareness about rights and entitlements is critical. A survey by Agewell Foundation shows that over 95% of elderly women are digitally illiterate, which limits their access to welfare schemes. Enhancing digital literacy and running educational campaigns about legal rights, like the MWPSC Act, can significantly improve their quality of life.
In conclusion, to address the issues of elderly women in India, a combination of social protection, economic empowerment, healthcare improvement, legal safeguards, and capacity building is necessary. As India is a signatory to the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, integrating these concerns into policy will not only support elderly women but also contribute to India’s “longevity dividend.”