In 2009, there were 88 million elderly people in India. By 2050, this figure is expected to soar over 320 million. Between 2000 and 2050 the overall population of the country is anticipated to grow by 60 per cent whereas population of people of age 60 years and above would shoot by 360 per cent.

Situation of elderly women in India:-

• By 2050, women over 60 years would exceed the number of elderly men by 18.4 million, which would result in a unique characteristic of ‘feminisation’ of the elderly population in India as is being experienced in many provinces of China.
• Changing family structure:-
  • Many are forced to either live in a house uncared for or leave their homes with nowhere to go to.
  • Although the degree of isolation may vary, with urbanisation and nuclear families on the rise, elderly women living in metropolitan cities are more likely to feel socially alienated than their rural counterparts.
  • The traditional norms and values of Indian society also laid stress on showing respect and providing care for the elderly. However with the emerging prevalence of nuclear family set-ups in recent years, the elderly are likely to be exposed to emotional, physical and financial insecurity in the years to come.
  • Due to the ever increasing trend of nuclear families, elder care management is getting more difficult, especially for working adult children who find themselves responsible for their parents well-being. Managing home care for the elderly is a massive challenge as multiple service providers nursing agencies, physiotherapists and medical suppliers are small, unorganized players who extend sub-optimal care. 
• Lack of infrastructure:-
  • Lack of physical infrastructure is a major deterrent to providing comfort to the aged. 
• Health issues:-
  • Challenges of health security get aggravated by the fact that elderly women often tend to underplay their ailments.
  • Emphasis on geriatrics in the public health system is limited with few dedicated geriatric services. The other issues of the public health system are lack of infrastructure, limited manpower, poor quality of care and overcrowding of facilities due to insufficient focus on elderly care.
• Gender discrimination:-
  • They face life time of gender-based discrimination. The gendered nature of ageing is such that universally, women tend to live longer than men.
• Widowhood:-
  • In the advanced age of 80 years and above, widowhood dominates the status of women with 71 per cent of women and only 29 per cent of men having lost their spouse. The life of a widow is riddled with stringent moral codes, with integral rights relinquished and liberties circumvented.
• Societal influence:-
  • Social mores inhibit women from re-marrying, resulting in an increased likelihood of women ending up alone.
  • Social bias often results in unjust allocation of resources, neglect, abuse, exploitation, gender-based violence, lack of access to basic services and prevention of ownership of assets.
• Ageing women are more likely to get excluded from social security schemes due to lower literacy and awareness levels.
• Failure of government schemes:
  • Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP) failure:
    • The number of old age homes the Centre supports under the Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP) has seen a decline from 269 homes in 2012-13 to a dismal 137 in 2014-15.
    • The Centre has asked State governments to ensure that there are old-age homes whose functioning can be supported under IPOP, but since it is optional for the State governments to do so, the total number of old-age homes remains abysmally low.
  • Concerns with Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act in 2007
    • Despite this, however, it is a fact that most people in India would rather suffer than have the family name sullied by taking their own children to court for not providing for them.
    • This need to maintain a facade is combined with a lack of knowledge of rights, the inherent inability of the elderly to approach a tribunal for recourse under the law, and poor implementation of the Act by various State governments.
  • The elderly in India are much more vulnerable because of the less government spending on social security system.
• Lack of insurance:-
  • Social isolation and loneliness has increased. Insurance cover that is elderly sensitive is virtually non- existent in India.
  • The preexisting illnesses are usually not covered making insurance policies unviable for the elders. 

Important measures taken by government :-

• The National Assistance Program consists of five sub-schemes:-
  • Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)
  • Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS)
  • Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme(IGNWPS) introduced in the year 2009,provides BPL(Below Poverty Line) widows in the age group 40 to 64(later revised 40 to 59) with a monthly pension of Rs. 200 per beneficiary.
    • After they attain the age of 60,they qualify for pension under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme(IGNOAPS).
  • Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS)
    • Eligibility: Individuals aged 18 years and above with more than 80% disability and living below the poverty line.
    • Amount: ?300 (US$4.70) per month (?500 (US$7.80) for those 80 years and above).
  • National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)
    • In the event of death of a bread-winner in a household, the bereaved family will receive lumpsum assistance of ?20,000 (US$310).
    • The bread-winner should have been between 18–60 years of age. The assistance would be provided in every case of death of a bread-winner in a household.
  • Annapurna Scheme
    • This scheme aims to provide food security to meet the requirement of those senior citizens who, though eligible, have remained uncovered under the IGNOAPS.
    • Under the Annapurna Scheme, 10 kg of free rice is provided every month to each beneficiary.
  • Vayoshrestha Samman is a Scheme of National Awards instituted by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment initially in 2005. 
  • Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act in 2007.
    • The model Act makes it obligatory for children or relatives to provide maintenance to senior citizens and parents.
  • Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana
    • Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana has been launched in April 2017 to provide Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for Senior citizens belonging to BPL category.
    • This is a 100% Central Sector Scheme, to be fully funded and implemented by the Central Government. The scheme has been launched for three years up to 2019-20.
    • The eligible persons for this scheme are senior citizens from BPL category, suffering from any of the age related disability / infirmity such as low vision, hearing impairment, loss of teeth and locomotor disability. Such persons would be provided assisted-living devices.
  • Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana (VPBY):
    • To provide social security  during old age and  protect elderly persons  against a future fall in  their interest income due  to uncertain market  conditions. 

Way forward and conclusion:- 

• As a signatory to Mipaa, India has the responsibility to formulate and implement public policy on population ageing.
  • Issues of poverty, migration, urbanisation, ruralisation and feminisation compound the complexity of this emerging phenomenon. Public policy must respond to this bourgeoning need and mainstream action into developmental planning.
• Gender and social concerns of elderly, particularly elderly women, must be integrated at the policy level.
  • The elderly, especially women, should be represented in decision making.
  • Increasing social/widow pension and its universalisation is critical for expanding the extent and reach of benefits.
• Renewed efforts should be made for raising widespread awareness and access to social security schemes such as National Old Age Pension and Widow Pension Scheme. Provisions in terms of special incentives for elderly women, disabled, widowed should also be considered.