Developed nations continue to be concerned over their aging populations. Now India has joined the ranks of those worrying about the increase in the grays as her numbers of elderly reaches a new high. According to a report published in India Today, one in every twelve Indians is now elderly.
According to the report, there are now 8 million people over the age of 80, 29 million over 70, and 77 million over the age of 60 in India.
India’s aged are not a healthy lot, as over 27 million elderly are in need of care with about 10 percent of those having no caretaker. In urban areas, some 64 percent of elderly women and 46 percent of elderly men are totally dependent on others for all their needs; the percentage of dependent elders in the whole of India is over 70 percent. A major cause of India’s graying problem is a dramatic increase in life expectancy in recent years.
India has a reputation for caring for their elderly so it is disheartening that 11 percent of the elderly have no younger people staying with them, 7 percent live alone while 50 percent elderly widows live alone. The high cost of living and increased pressures of a competitive society have led many to leave their parents to fend for themselves.
The government recently passed the Parents and Senior Citizens (Welfare and Maintenance) Bill, making children accountable for their parents. It also gives parents the power to disinherit children from their property if they wish. The Bill hopes to promote the security of the elderly who are left unattended and feeling helpless and vulnerable with no one to turn to if their children denounce or ignore their responsibilities towards their parents. The bill calls for fines and/or imprisonment of children who neglect their parents.
See the Source: “Young India Is Greying Fast,” Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, 2 August 2007, http://www.cbcisite.com/cbcinews/1779.htm
