As a consequence of improved health care, declining mortality rates and the momentum of demographic transition, India’s elderly population has been rising steadily and they now constitute a sizeable and growing proportion of the population. Despite this, there are as yet no thought-out policies and programmes directed towards them. The purpose of this timely book is to assist a better understanding of the socio-economic and demographic dynamics of India’s elderly in order to design appropriate programmes and policies to cater to their needs. The authors present a comprehensive account of the different dimensions of elderly life in India. A unique feature of this book is the demographic assessment (based on projections of the elderly in 25 states and 7 union territories) of the number of India’s elderly up to the year 2021. Using data from the 1961, 1971, 1981 and 1991 censuses, the National Sample Survey, and the Ageing Survey, the socio-economic characteristics of the elderly–such as level of literacy, work, sex ratio, marital and health status, household structure, rural-urban distribution and living arrangements–are discussed in detail. This is complemented by case studies of and group discussions with the elderly to assess their views about life and society. The authors conclude with policy prescriptions for enhancing the quality of life of India’s senior citizens. This book will be of considerable interest to all those in the fields of gerontology, demography, population studies, health studies, social work, sociology, psychology, and health, welfare and public economics.
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