Policy and Programme Options for Ageing

Ageing is a phenomenon affecting all countries in the world. The concerns that the elderly population face in a country could be due to socio-economic reasons, health issues, and gender aspects, especially in terms of the vulnerabilities of older women. This chapter mainly focuses on India's ageing population and the policies and programme options in place and those that are needed. But to provide a context, a comparison has been made with other major developed and developing countries. India's 60+ population is projected to double by 2035. Given this scenario, it is important for the country to pursue a multipronged approach to address older persons’ concerns. Engagement of the private sector is also crucial, apart from the interventions by the Government, individuals and families. Appropriate research and timely data availability on older persons are equally important for the design of sound policies and programmes.