The Greying of India: Population Ageing in the Context of Asia

India’s demographic landscape has witnessed unprecedented changes over the last 50 years. A rapid and spectacular transition from high to relatively low mortality and fertility has fundamentally altered the age composition of India’s population. In particular, the numbers of those living beyond the age of 60 is rising rapidly. Despite this, India has barely even begun to think about its aged and to devise appropriate policies for them. This book argues cogently that India’s policy makers need to urgently take up the cause of the elderly in order to create an environment that insures them against various risks and allows them to maintain as much economic independence and self-sufficiency as possible without disturbing the intergenerational balance. The first of its kind to be based on data from the National Sample Survey Organisation and providing a global perspective, this book constitutes the most comprehensive analysis of the causes and consequences of ageing in India. The major objectives of the book are to: Document the rapid growth of older populations in India. Address the key issues and topics related to ageing. Assess the implications of demographic changes for programmes and policies for the aged. Present an elderly status index based on available data. Timely, stimulating and challenging, this book is packed with relevant and hitherto unanalyzed data on ageing in India. In particular, it provides an exhaustive discussion on various conceptual and measurement issues relating to population ageing. It will be of interest to students and researchers in gerontology, demography, social work, sociology and economics, besides being essential reading for policy makers.