Deprivation and vulnerability among elderly in India

The Indian aged population is currently the second largest in the world next to that of china. The absolute number of the population aged over 60 in India is predicted to increase from 77 million in 2001 to 137 million by 2021. This paper looks at the non-income aspects of poverty among the elderly in India in terms of deprivation - i.e.both economic and social necessities that enhance the capability and thus the wellbeing of individuals. The author argues that elderly in India are generally suffering from economic, health and social insecurity, and the majority of the elderly are reported to be in badly deprived. There exists disparity across states, sex and sectors It is clear that in most of the Indian states the women are disadvantaged compared to men in terms of deprivation in old age. Also, relative disadvantage is high in the case of urban areas in comparison to the rural areas in most cases.