Is India ready to handle the surge in ageing population in the coming future? Is our Country geared up to provide medical facilities and other infrastructure to this already neglected segment of our society? Or are we sitting on a ticking time bomb that is ready to explode!

India represents almost 17.85% of the world’s population, which means one out of six people on this planet live in India. It is predicted that India will have more than 1.53 billion people by the end of 2030 and a wooping 1.70 Billion by 2050. To make the situation more alarming, India is also facing the phenomenon of increase in the population of the elderly, which is expected to cross 340 million by 2050.

While the overall population of India will grow by 40% between 2006 and 2050, the population of those aged 60 and above will increase by 270%.Out of this, the oldest old segment, which is the most vulnerable on account of suffering from disabilities, diseases, terminal illness and dementia, is also the largest growing segment of the elderly population, at a rate of 500%!

The ageing population is a global concern, more so for a vast country like India.The elders face a number of problems due to absence of assured and sufficient income to support themselves. Be it for their healthcare or other social securities. Industrialization, urbanization and migration of population have brought the concept of nuclear families. As a result, a section of the family, primarily the elders, are confronted with the problems of loss of a social role and recognition.

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 major social challenge in the future; and vast resources will be required towards the support, service, care and treatment of the elderls.

The question we need to ask ourselves is, are we ready to handle the surge in ageing population? Is our Country geared up to provide medical facilities and other infrastructure to this already neglected segment of our society? At the pace we are going,we are sitting on a ticking time bomb!