Social Security Measures for Senior Citizens in India

Policies, Challenges, and Prospects

Abstract

Today’s younger generation increasingly perceives the elderly as a burden and often rejects the responsibility of caring for them. As a consequence, older persons face growing socio-economic insecurity and multiple healthrelated challenges. Most of the old people depend on their savings, pension, provident fund, gratuity, etc., for their personal expenses. However, existing institutional mechanisms remain inadequate for their protection and well-being. Therefore, it is necessary that suitable provisions be made for providing social security to the elderly. The increasing ageing population globally and the need for social security are emerging as social challenges for all policymakers. Given the rapid pace of
demographic transition, it appears that in the coming decades a large segment of the world’s population will consist of older adults, thereby necessitating more comprehensive and sustainable social security systems.