There will be a ‘feminisation’ of India’s population of theold by 2050, says a recently released report prepared by the United NationsPopulation Fund (UNFPA) and HelpAge International. The authors note in theirreport that in keeping with the global trend, there will be more women than menamong India’s elderly population (above the age of 60 years).
“By 2050, the olderly women (60+ category) in the countrywill exceed older men by 18.4 million,” according to the report titled ‘Ageingin the Twenty-first Century: A Celebration and a Challenge’ released globallyon October 1, the international day of older persons.
“The olderly women are not a liability but an asset,” saidFrederika Meijer, a representative of the UNFPA. According to the report,“Globally, for every 100 women aged 60 or over worldwide, there are just 84men. For every 100 women aged 80 or over, there are only 61 men.” By 2050,India and China will together contribute to 38 percent of the global elderlypopulation.
“The feminisation of the aging population is real and true,”said Matthew Cherian, CEO of HelpAge India, an NGO which works for the elderlyin the country. He also said that in India, old people face discrimination,neglect at home by family members and figure very marginally in the country’spolicymaking on social security.
