Status of Ageing in Society: Past and Present

This paper is an attempt towards an empirical assessment of the status of ageing in Indian Society, Past and Present, with special reference to Chhattisgarh. The terms elderly and ageing are used synonymously in this paper.

About 7.6% of India's Population is above 60 years old. The population of the elderly persons is continuosly increasing in the over all general population (Census - 2001) Greying of population poses challenges not only for the society but also to the family. The elderly in India face multiple Social, Political, Economic, health and Cultural challenges including suboptiomal financial security, decline of traditional extended family systems due to rural-urban migration of young people, and Increasing costs of health care.

Agenig is a natural process and universal phenomenon that begins at birth, or to be more precise, at conception, a process that Progresses throughout one's Life and ends at death. Age and ageing one equally related to roletaking value arientations and modes of behaviour of a person the expectation of which varies at different age stages of members of a Society. Bhatia (1983)

The ageing poses a serious human problem. That the process of ageing is not uniform for all Individuals in the society. It may be mentionad that the process of ageing is influenced by the biological as well as the social and cultural system.

Though, traditionally elderly were respected in Inidan society and they enjoy lot of respect and honour. In the past, ageing was not a serious issue and societies did not give it priority. They dealt with it as a natural phenomenon. Family members were responsible for the care and management of the old. But in the earlier times, the social values have changed and the situation is different.