Lacking cash, elderly women vulnerable

Hyderabad: While combined AP has an ageing population of 9.8 per cent of total population, more than the national average of 8.6 per cent, economic dependence in old age is more among females than males making them vulnerable to be disowned by family.

According to ‘Elderly in India-2016’ report by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, old age dependency ratio is more in AP. In AP, 73 per cent of females above 60 years are fully dependant on others and 11 per cent are partially dependent on others and only 15 per cent are economically independent. Among males 49 per cent are not dependant on others.

According to the report the old-age dependency ratio has increased over time for all these states but the rate of increase was relatively higher in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka as compared to 2001.

The percentage of illness is 39 in AP among males and 42 per cent among females which is less than in states like Goa and Kerala. However, life expectancy and remaining length of period of life after 60 years is more in females.

The report revealed that among elderly persons it is observed that despite illness more men seemed to be feeling that they had better health condition compared to women. In urban areas, more elderly men and women felt they had good/ fair health as compared to their counterparts in rural areas.

Whooping cough, ulcer, problem of joints, hypertension, heart disease, urinary problem, diabetes and cancer are the most common illnesses among elderly above 60 years. In united AP around 8.5 per cent of the total elderly population are living alone as against the national average of 5.2 per cent. Rest are staying with children, spouses, relatives and with others.

However, only 19.2 per cent of elderly are living in the same building in which their child/grandchild and sibling are living and 44.6 per cent in the same town or village and 26.8 per cent outside the village or town of their kin.

Mr T.C.A. Anant, chief statistician at the Ministry of Statistics, said, “The phenomenon of population ageing is becoming a major concern for policy makers all over the world, both for developed and developing countries. Our country too is not immune to this demographic change - the concept of nuclear family, as a result of which a section of the family, primarily the elders, are confronting the problems of financial and physical support.”

AP is one of the states that has formulated all rules for The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007. Mr Chelikani Rao, president of the Federation of Senior Citizens Organisations, said, “Faulty planning by the couple during their younger days leaves elderly women vulnerable. There should be a pension scheme for both men and women.”

He said the awareness was absent in the past. He said pre-retirement planning should be done early, and post-retirement pensions should be arranged for both and advocated me-dical coverage for the aged. Depending on misguided government welfare schemes like pensions was a big mistake, he said.

He said the federation had persuaded the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India to direct certain insurance companies to accept insurance policies from persons who are older.

“Even a 60-year-old person can contribute to a pension scheme. After paying for five years, they can avail a monthly pension. There are other many mechanisms to which give insurance for senior citizens,” he said.

Mr Amarjeet Kaur, director-general of CSO, said, “Elder persons face a number of problems due to the absence of assured and sufficient income to support themselves for their healthcare and social security. Loss of social role and recognition, and non-availability of opportunities for creative and effective use of free time are also becoming a matter of great concern for elderly persons.”

“The trend clearly reveals that ageing will emerge as a major social challenge in the future; and vast resources will be required towards the support, service, care and treatment of elderly persons," he said