Syllabus: GS2/ Governance
Context
- The government in Kerala has decided to establish a separate Department for Senior Citizens’ Welfare to address the growing challenges associated with population ageing, and social isolation among elderly citizens.
Elderly Population in India
- India’s senior citizen population is projected to surge to around 230 million by 2036, making up about 15% of the total population.
- Women constitute a larger share of the elderly population due to higher life expectancy, leading to the feminisation of ageing.
- The sex ratio among the elderly stands at 1,065 females per 1,000 males, with women accounting for 58% of the elderly population, out of which 54% are widows.
- Southern states, along with Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, have higher elderly populations, with regional disparities expected to widen by 2036.
Kerala is Ageing Faster than Other States
- Kerala has the highest proportion of elderly population in India. Around 18.7% of Kerala’s population is above 60 years of age, compared to the national average of nearly 11–12%.
- By 2036, the elderly population in the State is projected to exceed 22%.
- The Economic Review 2025 by the Kerala State Planning Board said that the old-age dependency ratio (defined as the number of old people per 100 working population in the 15-59 year group) is currently at 26.1%, against a national average of 15.7%.
Major Challenges Faced by Senior Citizens in India
- Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Elderly citizens are highly vulnerable to non-communicable diseases such as, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, cancer etc., requiring continuous treatment and long-term healthcare support.
- Increasing Multimorbidity: Multimorbidity refers to the presence of two or more chronic diseases in the same individual.
- Elderly individuals suffering from multiple diseases face; frequent hospitalisation, high treatment costs, reduced quality of life and increased dependency on caregivers.
- Social Isolation: Rapid urbanisation and migration have weakened traditional joint family systems in India.
- Many elderly citizens experience loneliness, depression, anxiety and emotional neglect.
- Inadequate Geriatric Healthcare Infrastructure: India has fewer than 1,000 certified geriatricians for a senior population exceeding 150 million.
- Healthcare systems remain more focused on curative care rather than elderly-friendly preventive and supportive care.
- Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities often face shortages of medicines, assistive devices, rehabilitation equipment, medical consumables etc.
- High Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Expenditure: Continuous medication and repeated hospitalisation creates financial burdens for families caring for elderly members.
Government Initiatives for Elderly in India
- Atal Pension Yojana (APY): Launched in 2015 to ensure old-age income security for unorganised sector workers. It provides a guaranteed monthly pension (₹1,000–₹5,000) post-60 years.
- Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY): Launched in 2017 to distribute assistive living devices (hearing aids, walking sticks, wheelchairs, etc.) to BPL senior citizens or those with income below ₹15,000/month.
- Senior Care Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) Portal: Promotes start-ups and innovation in elderly care services, encouraging the growth of the silver economy.
- Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY: It Extends ₹5 lakh annual health coverage to around 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 years and above, across 4.5 crore families.
- Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007: Makes it a legal obligation for children and heirs to provide maintenance to their parents.
- Mandates state governments to establish old-age homes and ensure senior welfare services.
Way Ahead
- Promote Digital Literacy for Seniors: Launch targeted training programmes through community centres, NGOs, and Panchayati Raj Institutions to familiarise elderly citizens with smartphones, telemedicine, and digital banking platforms.
- National Elderly Care Policy: India should create an integrated elderly welfare framework combining healthcare, nutrition, mental health, and social security services.
- Encourage Innovation in the Silver Economy: Support start-ups and enterprises developing assistive technologies, AI-based health monitoring tools, and user-friendly applications tailored for elderly needs.
Source: TH
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