Document Actions


Senior Citizens

Back to Social Vulnerable Groups

In India two-thirds of the elderly males and 90-95 per cent of the elderly females are illiterate and a large number of them, particularly females, are single. Thus, the level of economic dependency is quite high. It has been estimated that about 18 million elderly males and 3.5 million elderly females would need jobs in 2001. These figures are based on the proportion currently working. This means that a huge amount of resources would be needed in order to create jobs for them in the future. Moreover, finances will also be required to maintain the 55 million not working, the majority of whom probably will not have adequate savings nor family assistance.

It has also been estimated that about 27 million elderly people would be ill at any given point of time in the year 2001 and thus need specialized medical care. In the absence of such medical facilities, large expenditures on infrastructure would be required to meet their needs. The occurrence of physical disabilities is another important aspect of the aging process. There will be about 17 million disabled elderly persons in India in 2001, half of whom are likely to be visually disabled. The great majority of
these would not be able to work and thus would be economically dependent. In the absence of family support, they would expect help from the Government.  Although State Governments and Union Territories have initiated schemes to provide some financial assistance to the handicapped or the destitute, the amount of such pensions ranges from only Rs. 30 to 60 per month. Moreover, owing to the paucity of funds available, the pensions cover only a fraction of the persons eligible.

Among the positive factors which have been sustaining the elderly in India is the strong attachment of family members to the elderly. Social pressure continues to be placed on persons who fail to discharge this responsibility to their elderly family members. Thus it is important to strengthen these values and the capacity of families to cope with the problems of caring for the elderly. The elderly should be considered as human resources and their rich experience and residual capacities should be put to optimum use for the benefit of national development. Their ability to lead healthy and fruitful lives should be ensured by the Government.

National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)

The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) which came into effect from 15th August, 1995 represents a significant step towards the fulfillment of the Directive Principles in Article 41 and 42 of the Constitution. It introduces a National Policy for Social Assistance benefit to poor households in the case of old age, death of primary bread-winner and maternity. The Programme has three components, namely:-

  • National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS)
  • National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)
  • National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS)

These Schemes were partially modified in 1998 based on the suggestions received from various corners and also on the basis of the feedback received from the State Governments. The salient features of these Schemes in their present modified form are given below:-

National Old Age Pension Scheme Under this Scheme, Central Assistance is available as per the following criteria:

  • Age of the applicant (male or female) is 65 years or more.
  • The applicant is a 'destitute' in the sense of having little or no regular means of subsistence from  his/her own sources of income or through financial support from family members or other sources.
  • The amount of old age pension is Rs.75 per month for the purpose of claiming


Source : Aging in India: Its Socioeconomic and Health: By H.B. Chanana and P.P. Talwar, ImplicationsAsia-Pacific Population Journal, Vol. 2, No. 3 37



Powered by Plone CMS, the Open Source Content Management System

This site conforms to the following standards: