According to studies, developed countries became wealthy first and subsequently experienced an increase in the proportion of elderly people in their populations. However, the situation in India is the opposite. The number of elderly people is increasing rapidly even as the country is still in the process of economic development. India is witnessing a rapid rise in its elderly population. By 2050, one in every five Indians is expected to be above the age of 80, meaning that around 34.7 crore people will be senior citizens. Nearly 70 per cent of them are expected to live in rural areas, according to a study by Transform Rural India. The study points out that people suffering from chronic diseases and senior citizens must have access to regular healthcare services within their villages. Women continue to bear the major responsibility for taking care of children, sick family members and the elderly. Young people are increasingly leaving villages and moving to cities in search of employment. At the same time, as life expectancy has increased, there is a growing shortage of manpower required to care for the elderly.
DATTAPRASAD SHIRODKAR, Mumbai
