UPSC EDITORIAL ANALYSIS : For Future Ready Seniors
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: Indian Express
• Prelims: Elderly population in India, Schemes for old age people, OPS, Provident Fund pension scheme, EPFO, etc
• Mains GS Paper I & II: Schemes for vulnerable sections of society and performance and issues associated with these schemes etc
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
• The number of persons above 60 years is set to more than double from 100 million in 2011 to 230 million in 2036, making up nearly 15 percent of the total population. This is projected to further rise to 319 million by 2050, nearly one-fifth of the total population.
• This is projected to further rise to 319 million by 2050, nearly one-fifth of the total population.
INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE
Context
Elderly Population:
• The National Elderly Policy defines people in the 60+ age group as elderly.
• According to the Population Census *2011, there are nearly 104 million elderly persons in India.*
Background of Population distribution:
• The average household size in India has reduced from 94 in 2011 to 3.54 in 2021.
• Households with smaller families A growing number of older people.
• A growing number of older people.
Need for reset of the health and social care system(home care system):
• Market estimates project the home-based care industry to grow at a rate of 15-19 per cent annually, From nearly USD 6-7 billion in 2021 to USD 21 billion by 2027.
• From nearly USD 6-7 billion in 2021 to USD 21 billion by 2027.
• Care for seniors at home is a growing concern as it oscillates between social care and health care.
• The changing family structure is paving the way for external assistance in caring for older people at home.
• The scope of services provided at home has expanded from assistance with activities of daily living to routine nursing care as well as specialized care.
• According to a NITI Aayog report: healthcare offered at home can replace up to 65 percent of unnecessary hospital visits and reduce hospital costs by 20 percent.
Issues:
• Care practices at home are not well-defined and standardized.
• Caregivers who are well-trained and possess an empathetic outlook are in short supply, and often complain of being mistreated by families.
• There are no specific grievance redressal mechanisms for either the users or the caregivers.
• The cost of hiring a caregiver at home is substantial.
Policy interventions for care at home:
• Recognise “home” as a place for providing care and as a “place of work” for caregivers. This has implications for the rights and safety of both users and providers. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) recognises hospitalization at home in certain conditions.
• This has implications for the rights and safety of both users and providers.
• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) recognises hospitalization at home in certain conditions.
• Care at home is a different proposition than in an institution like a hospital or an old-age home. The terms of engagement and treatment protocols must be tailored to the home environment.
• The terms of engagement and treatment protocols must be tailored to the home environment.
• To meet the growing demand for trained caregivers, streamline their vocational training, nomenclature, roles, and career progression.
• All need to be brought together under a comprehensive policy on home-based care incorporating aspects such as: A registry of providers of such services ensuring transparency and accountability establishing grievance redressal mechanisms insurance coverage, among others.
• A registry of providers of such services
• ensuring transparency and accountability
• establishing grievance redressal mechanisms
• insurance coverage, among others.
• The policy should take cognisance of the fact that women, in India, on average outlive men by three years. The sex ratio of older people is projected to increase to 1060 by 2026. Since women in India are usually younger than their husbands, they often spend their later years as widows. The policy should particularly cater to the more vulnerable and dependent older single women so that they can live respectable and independent lives.
• The sex ratio of older people is projected to increase to 1060 by 2026.
• Since women in India are usually younger than their husbands, they often spend their later years as widows.
• The policy should particularly cater to the more vulnerable and dependent older single women so that they can live respectable and independent lives.
Initiatives by government for elderly:
Way Forward
• Greater collaboration between different ministries could get the ball rolling on the required reforms.
• The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019, seeks to regulate home-based care for older people. It proposes the registration of institutions providing home care services and prescribing minimum standards for them. It has not been passed since being introduced in Parliament in 2019.
• It proposes the registration of institutions providing home care services and prescribing minimum standards for them.
• It has not been passed since being introduced in Parliament in 2019.
• While the emphasis on making India’s youth population “future ready” is welcome. It should not overshadow an equally critical group that needs attention.
• It should not overshadow an equally critical group that needs attention.
• The experience of countries like Japan shows that systems to care for older people are essential for the younger population to contribute to the country’s economy.
• It is a society’s moral and ethical responsibility to care for its people beyond their prime, reciprocating their lifetime of physical, social, emotional, and economic investment in the society.
QUESTION FOR PRACTICE
Performance of welfare schemes that are implemented for vulnerable sections is not so effective due to the absence of their awareness and active involvement at all stages of the policy process – Discuss.(UPSC 2019) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)
With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following statements:(UPSC 2022)
• A share of the household financial savings goes towards government borrowings.
• Dated securities issued at market-related rates in auctions form a large component of internal debt.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (C)