Who said Care will be free in our old age, this is not a Dire Straits song…., this is the real song of life i.e. no money no care, unless it’s State sponsored….
India is an ageing nation which means the dependency ratio of non-working people in comparison to working folks is going to increase. As a result, the social welfare budget will also have to increase proportionately to take care of the non-earning citizens, but then, are we even looking in that direction?
The larger point of debate is, who will take care of the older people when we actually become an Aged nation? Will it be the centre responsibility or will it continue to be the state prerogative?
I am sure all the panel discussions and fine dining will result in some positive outcomes, the bigger question is for whom?
To impact and ensure that the bottom of the pyramid are included in the growth trajectory of the nation, it is critical that all citizens have the same basic rights similar to the privileged class which are available and accessible, otherwise it will become a challenge to handle the situation when it gets blown out of proportion.
There is no denying the fact that over the past 10 years there has been a lot of development in the rural areas but then, it is critical to keep developing and finding sustainable solutions. Having the latest mobile phones and making social media reels is not real development. As a society we need to become more inclusive and understand the needs and demand of the Ageing population.
Pankaj Mehrotra
