Status of Ageing in Society: Past and Present

Dr. Jawahar Lal Tiwari*

School of Studies in Sociology, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur (Chhattisgarh)

ABSTRACT:

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 role-taking 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.

Socio-Cultural Context of Ageing –

The elderly were the most respected members the family in traditional Indian Society. Taking care of them was mainly the responsiblity of their children. However, the growth of Individualism and materialism among the younger generation in modern Industrial life led to their alienation and isolation from family and society. Migration from rural areas also resulted in the growth of more nuclear familiesin towns and cities.

The role and the authourity of the elders was both supported and upheld. The scope and effectiveness of the ageing autharity of the family also seem to be shrinking. Today in most of the families (78-1%) the younger male is the head of the family. In past 80% of the families had the eldest male as their head. (Table 01 and 02).

It is clear, thus, the twenty years ago the eldest males as their heads, while today the younger male is the head of the family. Traditionally the head of the family managed all the important aspects of the life of the family members, and in most matters his word was final. This is no more so. The spread of education and new sources of Knowledge also tend to upset the traditional power stracture of the aging.

Table – 01: Head of the family in Contemparary Situation

S.No.	Head of the Family	Frequency	Percentage
1.	Elderly Male	28	23.3
2.	Younger Male	92	78.7
Total		120	100

Table – 02: Head of the family Twenty years Ago

S.No.	Head of the Family	Frequency	Percentage
1.	Elderly Male	96	80
2.	Younger Male	24	20
Total		120	100

According to Nandal, Khatri and Kadian (1987), the elderly who handed over their property to the younger generation and retained no control over the source of Income, lost on their role as decision makers Soodan (1975), mahajan (1987), and Gangrade (1988) focused on Intergenerational changes and found that most of the elderly felt that the younger people did not respect them and anticipated tension in bonding and togetherness.

Psychological and Health Issues: –

The Preblems of the older people were equally serious then those of other members of the family. The range of problems varies from psychological to the problem of servival. Mental illness is much higher among old people. Ramamurthi (1978) found that such problems tend to manifest gradually after the age of 50, resulting in poor adjustment and dissatisfaction with life.

Ramachandran, Sarada Menon and Ramamurthy (1981) reported that family and living conditions are significant factors affecting the mental health of the elderly. Mental disorders are attributed to abuse, neglect or lack of care for a parent.

The increase in the life expectancy is not accompanied with health and wellbeing. With the onset of old age, health related problems increase making the elderly dependent on others for the fulfillmeat of their physical and psychological needs.

It may abserved that the health and economic problems among the main problems in the old age (Table – 03). The majority often suffer from cronic bronchitis, anaemia, blood pressure, chest pain, heart attack kidney problems. Due to the limited resources of their families that make it different to afford the best medical facilities for their health.

Table – 03: Attitude of Family members towards the Ageing Persons

S.No.	Attitude	Frequency	Percentage
1.	Respectless	68	56.7
2.	Normal	36	30
3.	Not Cardial	16	13.3
Total		120	100

Health facilities exclusively for the elderly are negligible. They have to complete with the general population to avail them.

Gangadharan: (2005) abserves, "Indian elderly, especially those in rural areas, have no access to reliable health care, as primary health centres are not equipped to handle the elderly.

Family and care of the Elderly: –

Older person have always been an integral and important part of the family in Indian Society. In the modern societies where youngsters have differrent life style from the grandparental way of life, they have to make Independent choices and enter unfamiliar role by their parents. Lack of family support, poor financial status, physical and mental disorders and guilt of being dependent on others some the problems nagging the ageing in India. The situation is painful for older people. The potential of family has been curtailed to support the elderly.

From the family side, the ageing pepulation looks farward to emotional support, love and affection care of the aged is perceived as the responsiblity of family members. The family is like an umbrella that acts as safety shield for the aged. However, recent changes in the size and structure of families have caused the rearrangement of the role and functions of the members in the families.

It may be observed that most of the ageing respondents felt that the younger family members did not respect them. (Table-04) Again the majorty of the elderly respondents was of the opinion that sons and their family members should provide the necessary help to the aged.

Table – 04: Main Problems in old age

S.No.	Problems	Yes F - p	No F - p	Total
1.	Economic	79 - 65.8	41 - 34.2	120
2.	Health	91 - 75.8	29 - 24.2	120
3.	Social Adjustment	68 - 56.7	52 - 43.3	120

CONCLUSION:

The case of the aged is emerging gradually as a manor familia issue in the contemporary scenario as the moral and material values are fast changing in the rapid modern urbanized word.

Of course, an ageing society will give rise to special problems from health, family and social angels. Far Instance, there will be an increasing demond for geriatricians with knowledge and expertise required to handle and treat the elderly population. But unfortunately, the concept of a welfare state where many of the needs of the ageing population are taken care of by the state is being criticized by agencies, such as the Word Bank, which are keen that Government, provide only minimum levels of social security to the elderly population groups.

India has not yet comeout with an appropriate framework to provide social security for the elders (Radhakrishna Rao, INFA)

REFERENCES:

1. Bhatia, H.S. 1983. Ageing and society. A sociological study of public servants. Udaypur: Arya’S Book Center.

2. Bose, A.B. 1988. Policies and Programmes for the ageing in India. New Delhi Abhinav Pub.

3. D' Suza, 1982. The social organization of Ageing among Urban poor. Indian social Institute.

4. Chandrika, P.Ananthraman, R.N. 1982. Life change and Adjustment in old age-Journal of Psychological researches Vol. 26 (3).

5. Nasreen, Asiya (2009). Urban Elderly Coping strategies and societa Responses, concept pub. New Delhi.

6. Social work in India : some Issues and perspectives. New Delhi: B.R. Publishing Corporation.

Received on 02.02.2011

Accepted on 15.02.2011