Ageing issues and responses in India: A synopsis

Abstract

India is now described as an ageing society by many demographers. The changing age structure of Indian society calls for many policy and programme initiatives favouring older people in the field of health and social care for improving their status along with legal provisions to safeguard and protect them. The demographic transition resulting in ageing of the population also calls for changes in attitudes and thinking about lives of older people for their betterment. This chapter highlights some of the demographic features of ageing Indian society and discusses the vulnerabilities of older people as well as the societal responses seen in the country to the increasing strength of older people in society.