India is currently experiencing a demographic shift towards an ageing population. As a result, the Indian government has implemented several policies and schemes to address the health, financial empowerment, and capacity building needs of the elderly population.
According to the National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP), which was announced in 1999, the government is committed to ensuring that senior citizens have access to basic amenities such as food, shelter, and healthcare. The policy also aims to promote intergenerational bonding and provide opportunities for the elderly to participate in community activities.
The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 is another important policy that provides legal support for elderly care. The act mandates that children are responsible for providing maintenance to their parents and senior citizens. It also provides for the establishment of old age homes and tribunals to address grievances related to maintenance.
The National Policy for Senior Citizens 2011 is another policy that provides financial support for homes, day care centers, medical vans, help lines, etc. It also provides pensions, travel concessions, income tax relief, medical benefits, extra interest on savings, and security of older persons through an integrated scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
In addition to these policies, there are several community-based organizations that are actively engaged in digital empowerment through computer and internet usage sessions. Ministerial committees have also been dedicated to shaping policies for elderly welfare.
Recently, UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) India in collaboration with the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) unveiled the highly anticipated "India Ageing Report 2023." This report sheds light on the challenges, opportunities and institutional responses surrounding elderly care in India.
The report leverages data from the Longitudinal Ageing Survey in India (LASI), 2017–18, Census of India, Population Projections by the Government of India (2011–2036), and World Population Prospects 2022 by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs to provide an up-to-date perspective.
The report's key findings encompass a range of analyses related to elderly well-being including:
- The enhancement of geriatric care to cater to the unique healthcare needs of seniors.
- A multitude of government schemes and policies addressing the health, financial empowerment, and capacity building needs of the elderly population.
- Community-based organizations actively engaged in digital empowerment through computer and internet usage sessions.
- Ministerial committees dedicated to shaping policies for elderly welfare.
- Corporate efforts for joyful aging, social assistance, old age homes, and elder abuse awareness campaigns.
It is imperative that India continues to prioritize elderly care as its population ages. The government must continue to work towards providing access to basic amenities such as food, shelter, healthcare while promoting intergenerational bonding.
It must also continue to provide financial support for homes, day care centers, medical vans, help lines etc., while ensuring that senior citizens have access to basic amenities such as food, shelter and healthcare.
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