UNFPA and its collaborating institutions – Institute for Social and Economic Change (Bangalore), Institute of Economic Growth (New Delhi) and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai) – have successfully conducted an in-depth survey on ‘Building a Knowledge Base on Population Ageing in India (BKPAI)’ in 2011. The survey was conducted in seven major states in India, having relatively higher proportions of the elderly in the population. It was strongly felt by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the project and many other experts that a separate state level report be brought out for each of the seven states.
The preparation of state wise reports was undertaken and the Punjab and Kerala State reports were released in December 2013. On January 16, 2014 the Maharashtra State Report entitled ‘The Status of Elderly in Maharashtra, 2011’ was released during the Inaugural session of the Indo-UK two-day workshop on ‘Ageing’ held at the Library Conference Hall, TISS, Mumbai.
This was followed by a presentation of highlights of the Maharashtra Report by Dr D K Mangal. The Indo-UK workshop included discussions to explore and strengthen Indo-UK collaborative partnerships between academia, experts, governmental and non-governmental departments in the area of ‘ageing’ and was therefore seen as a relevant context for release of the state report. The dignitaries on the dias were Prof S Parasuraman, Director, TISS, Mumbai, Prof F Ram, IIPS, Mumbai, Dr Sujaya Krishnan, Joint Secretary, MoHFW, GoI, New Delhi and Frederika Meijer, UNFPA.
After the screening of a UNFPA film on ageing at the workshop, Meijer commented on the need to see the people behind the data because each one has different needs and we need to think of them as individuals. Speaking about the larger issues and the context of the two-day workshop, and the reason for UNFPA’s engagement, she said, “Population ageing is a major trend of the 21st century. And India’s population is ageing fast. According to latest UN projections, India’s elderly population is growing at 314 per cent per cent while the overall population is growing at 55 per cent. There is a higher proportion of the elderly in rural areas, and even here, we see a higher percentage of women.
Rationale for ageing research
UNFPA’s programme for ageing in India started in 2007 and Meijer indicated that they were are looking at ways to bring forward the ageing agenda in India. Ageing research is at a very nascent stage in India, and we have to also keep in mind that each state of the country is at a different stage of the demographic transition and therefore has different needs. To illustrate her point, she drew attention to some of the results of the Survey Report, The Status of the Elderly in Maharashtra, 2011. The results could be termed as a study in contrasts. While there was good news that compared to the other six states whose Survey reports have been already made public, Maharashtra had the highest number of active elderly, 35 per cent, of the elderly reported abuse, as opposed to 11 per cent in other states. Such research is important because data /evidence can strengthen advocacy for policy change as well as intervention and implementation at the grass roots level. This research will also help modification of appliances and services for rural area for instance, walkers with wheels might not work in (will not work in) India’s sometimes muddy rural areas, pointed out Meijer. She cited a study done in Gujarat which showed how many hurdles the elderly came up against to access their pension and how the process could be simplified by getting ASHAs to play a facilitating role. Similarly she said it was important to strengthen the healthcare professionals at all levels but especially in the rural areas, to recognise signs of ageing and associated medical problems like Alzheimer’s, dementia, hearing loss since most of these signs are difficult to recognise. Meijer stated, “It is important to create a bridge of inter generational dialogue. The young complain that the elderly do not understand them while the elderly complain that they do not get the respect. Both are right, both have something to say, have their needs which both sides need to understand.”
The 89-page report has seven sections analysing various data points ranging from work, income and assets, living arrangements and family relations, health and subjective well-being, social security a swell as suggestions on the way forward.
Recomendations
Importantly, the survey findings help in drawing some conclusions and suggestions for framing policy and programmes. The first suggestion was the need for covering all the needy elderly (irrespective of BPL status of household) under economic and other security programmes. It was also suggested that fertility reduction policies should go hand in hand with provision of social security in old age, as the elderly with no income and children to support them need the state to provide a safety net.
The third suggestion was that livelihood programmes should be designed to provide work opportunities for the elderly as per their abilities and interest to keep them engaged and maintain their self-worth. The Report also pointed out that as across the world, among the elderly population of Maharashtra too there are more women than men. The scheme providing pensions to widows needs to cover all the needy widows, even those from APL families and the amount provided has to be revised in accordance with the rising cost of living.
Harking back to Meijer’s comments, the Report also touched on the need for sensitisation of the families and persons from other age groups (in schools/colleges) in order to prevent discrimination and abuse of the elderly. There is also need to encourage the identification of the elderly found to be facing abuse and plan interventions to handle such situations.
At the family level, stronger inter-generational bonding needs to be encouraged and at community level, greater participation of the elderly has to be ensured by having age-friendly environments which will ensure harmony.
Since the Report showed that arthritis and cataract are the major health problems among the elderly in Maharashtra and since surgery is the only remedy for cataract, the Report recommended that health care schemes that provide concessions are warranted in government hospitals for the elderly who require this surgery
Touching on the need for proper financial planning, the Report pointed out that the financial resources of the elderly get depleted as they do not plan for their old age, particularly since most chronic diseases start in the late 40-50’s. Government programmes or NGO initiatives to educate and set good practices about financial planning for old age and elderly health care for persons in their fifties can prepare them better to have a peaceful later life.