Global survey on the well-being of the elderly has ranked India 73rd among 91 countries.
Elderly women are pushed to the footpath as the lease for their home run by Earth Saviours Foundation in New Delhi has expired. Hundreds of people, including senior citizens, the metally challenged and HIV positive, staged a protest on Tuesday demanding a place to live.
Elderly women are pushed to the footpath as the lease for their home run by Earth Saviours Foundation in New Delhi has expired. Hundreds of people, including senior citizens, the metally challenged and HIV positive, staged a protest on Tuesday demanding a place to live. - Arjit Sen/DNA
Home to about 100 million elderly, India is one of the worst countries to grow old in. A first-of-its-kind Global AgeWatch Index that assessed countries on the basis of social and economic well-being of its elderly has ranked India 73rd out of 91 countries way below China (35), Sri Lanka (36) and Brazil (31).
The age index was released by HelpAge International to mark the UN International Day of Older Persons. It compiles data from the UN, World Bank, World Health Organisation and other international agencies.
The age index looked at four key domains income security, health status, employment and education and enabling environment. And India scored poorly in all the four domains. With poor access to healthcare facilities, India ranked 85th in health status.
Clearly, the country remains very unprepared to take care of its elderly despite the fact that the number of adults aged 65 years and above is set to outnumber children under the age of 5 within the next five years.
The survey states that Indias strong economic performance and its already large and growing population of older people has not yet resulted in widespread income security and access to healthcare in older age. Almost 90% have to continue to work if they have to survive.
90% of India's elders work to survive - India - DNA
Elderly women are pushed to the footpath as the lease for their home run by Earth Saviours Foundation in New Delhi has expired. Hundreds of people, including senior citizens, the metally challenged and HIV positive, staged a protest on Tuesday demanding a place to live.
Elderly women are pushed to the footpath as the lease for their home run by Earth Saviours Foundation in New Delhi has expired. Hundreds of people, including senior citizens, the metally challenged and HIV positive, staged a protest on Tuesday demanding a place to live. - Arjit Sen/DNA
Home to about 100 million elderly, India is one of the worst countries to grow old in. A first-of-its-kind Global AgeWatch Index that assessed countries on the basis of social and economic well-being of its elderly has ranked India 73rd out of 91 countries way below China (35), Sri Lanka (36) and Brazil (31).
The age index was released by HelpAge International to mark the UN International Day of Older Persons. It compiles data from the UN, World Bank, World Health Organisation and other international agencies.
The age index looked at four key domains income security, health status, employment and education and enabling environment. And India scored poorly in all the four domains. With poor access to healthcare facilities, India ranked 85th in health status.
Clearly, the country remains very unprepared to take care of its elderly despite the fact that the number of adults aged 65 years and above is set to outnumber children under the age of 5 within the next five years.
The survey states that Indias strong economic performance and its already large and growing population of older people has not yet resulted in widespread income security and access to healthcare in older age. Almost 90% have to continue to work if they have to survive.
90% of India's elders work to survive - India - DNA
