Ever since the liberalisation of the Indian economy in the 1990s, the country has witnessed
massive growth, bringing crores of people outside poverty. A better economy meant better
healthcare and a better standard of living. This has resulted in longer life expectancies,
averaging around 67 years of age, up from a mere 32 years in 1947. The ever-high population
growth rates also meant more young people, who could not only contribute to the economy
but also act as supporting pillars for their old parents and other relatives, be it in cities or in
the hinterlands.
However, to control this growing population, which has reached around 140 crores as per
recent estimates, the government through its sustained efforts over decades, has finally been
able to lower the fertility rates. According to a report by the United Nations, India now has a
fertility rate of 1.9, below the threshold of 2.1, which is needed to maintain the population.
What this means is that on an average, the Indian female now gives birth to less than two
children, thereby indicating that the Indian population has now begun its journey to shrink.
This opens avenues to new and uprising challenges. One of such challenges rising elderly
population in India.
The share of elderly in the population has risen from 7.7 crores in 2001 to 13.3 crores in 2021
and is expected to rise up to 17.9 crores in 2031. So, it becomes a necessity for us, as well
wishers of the nation, to look at this challenge that lies ahead. Geriatrics have been known to
be at an increased risk of developing many diseases and conditions, such as Dementia or
other medical conditions including Parkinson’s. As many as 20.5 % of seniors which make up
to 1.7 crore individuals, suffer from mental health issues, yet geriatric‑specific mental health
services remain grossly under‑developed. Moreover, about 12.2 % of those above 60
currently require supportive or palliative care. This number is only expected to grow sharply
in the coming decades. On top of this, the elderly are also more prone to being victims of
cyber- crimes. Numerous cases have been documented where people have lost their entire life
savings to cyber frauds. The monetary loss has a huge impact on the lives of those affected-
more so psychologically. This leads us to have a focused approach towards tackling this
challenge.
Old age, as like any other stage of life, brings its own challenges- both psychologically and
physiologically. Older people need greater assistance and care from others-and this should be
reflected in state policy as well. We need to have better healthcare services, tailored for
geriatric care. This includes mental health care as well, which is often ignored or considered
secondary. As we attempt towards a better quality of life, we also need to have systems which
can assist the elderly in their day-to-day life – be it with the medicines, doctors and other
healthcare workers, banks, bureaucratic work or just having access to a safe and secure
locality to stroll around and connect with those around. Elders need to be our priority in the
coming years.