Symbolic photo.
New Delhi: The elderly population in India, which is considered the youngest country in the world, is now increasing rapidly. The India unit of the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA-India, has given a sensational report that the elderly population in India will increase by 2 times in the next few years. UNFPA-India chief Andrea Wojnar has said that India’s elderly population is likely to double by 2050 and there is a need to invest more in health care, housing and pension in the country, especially for those elderly women who are “more likely to be left alone and face poverty.”
UNFPA-India’s Resident Representative Wojnar, in an interview with PTI-Bhasha, a few days after World Population Day (July 11), outlined the key population trends that India is prioritizing to accelerate sustainable development. These include young population, aging population, urbanization, migration and climate change. All these factors present unique challenges and opportunities for the country. Wojnar said that the number of persons aged 60 years and above is estimated to double to 34 crore 60 lakh by 2050, so there is a dire need to increase investment in healthcare, housing and pension schemes. He said, “This is necessary for older women, who are more likely to live alone and face poverty.”
India has the largest youth population
The UNFPA-India chief said India has a large youth population and there are 252 million people aged between 10 and 19 years. He mentioned that promoting gender equality as well as investing in health, education, job training and employment generation can capitalise on this demographic potential and lead the country towards sustainable progress. Wojnar said, “India is projected to have 50 per cent urban population by 2050, so building smart cities, robust infrastructure and affordable housing is important to tackle slum growth, air pollution and environmental problems.”
He said, “Urban plans should also take into account women’s security needs, access to health care and education and jobs, so that gender equality can be promoted and the overall quality of life can be improved.” Wojnar also said that well-thought-out planning, skill development and distribution of economic opportunities are needed to manage internal and external migration. He said that it is important for India to incorporate climate change adaptation into development plans and invest in renewable energy. (Language)
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