India to grow old before it grows rich, 20 pc of population to be over 60 by 2050: Study
The study released by Transform Rural India (TRI) said India is growing old before it grows rich, unlike many developed nations that became wealthy before their populations aged.
India's population is aging before it becomes prosperous, according to a study titled "Demographic Transition, Evolving Families and the Future of the Care Ecosystem in Rural India." Released by Transform Rural India (TRI), the study projects that one in five Indians will be over 60 by 2050, with nearly seven in 10 older adults residing in rural areas.
India is experiencing this demographic shift at lower income levels compared to developed nations that became wealthy before their populations aged. The study draws on data from various national datasets, highlighting the strain on the traditional family-based care model as families shrink, younger generations migrate for work, and people live longer.
Despite the majority of care for older individuals still being provided within households, the study notes that nearly 94% of care is still provided within households, leaving fewer family members to manage the growing and complex care needs. Women shoulder an unequal burden, spending about 305 minutes daily on unpaid care work, compared to just 56 minutes by men.
Climate change is exacerbating the situation, with heatwaves and floods increasing women's unpaid labor. Non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer, now account for around two-thirds of all deaths in India, with a growing share of the disease burden stemming from years lived with disability rather than premature death.
The healthcare system in India is primarily designed for episodic interventions, such as childbirth, immunization, and acute illnesses. The next phase of healthcare should focus on supporting individuals with chronic illnesses and disabilities and the challenges of aging, which hospitals alone cannot address.
TRI proposes a "neighbourhood of care" model, connecting existing rural institutions like Gram Panchayats, self-help groups, ASHAs, Anganwadi centres, and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs into a unified community care network. This model aims to provide integrated care within walking distance of every household, leveraging the institutions already present in rural India instead of building new care infrastructure.
The study also positions care as an economic opportunity, estimating that investing 2% of India's GDP in the care economy could create around 11 million jobs, primarily for rural women. Shyamal Santra, practice director at Transform Rural India, emphasizes that ensuring people can live well for longer is the next challenge, requiring a redesign of care delivery beyond facility-based care to a shared community function and improved sustainable living conditions.
Written by urgent.news from ETHealthworld's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
