On Development and Sustainability: The Issue of Ageing in India

Abstract

Population ageing is not only humanity’s greatest triumphs but also one of our greatest challenges. It is a demographic imperative which has socioeconomic and political consequences across the globe. Economies are globalising, technology is evolving rapidly and people are more likely to live in cities. Of late, developing countries, like India, are experiencing the challenge of these developmental discourses, in the form of changes in demographic scenario and family structure, leaving fewer older people with families to care for them. So we are at crossroads. The real issue is, therefore, how older people can sustain themselves, remain healthy, be an integral part of society and enjoy a good quality of life, without impeding the pace of development. The response to the challenges of ageing should take into consideration the realities of an individual country or region, avoiding the trap of a ‘one size fits all’ model, and importantly, should have strong analytical understanding of underlying demographic processes and factors.