As per the census 2011, the number of senior citizens was 8.4% of the total population. The ‘Report of the Technical Group on population projections- July 2020’ by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has projected increase in the population of senior citizens from 13.75 crore (10.1% of total population) in 2021 to 22.74 crore (14.9% of total population) in 2036.
The “Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI)” Wave-1 (2017-18) report of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has assessed the nutrition status of senior citizens in the country.
The Report says that in India, more than a quarter of elderly age 60 and above are underweight (27%) and a fifth of elderly are overweight/obese (22%), indicating a dual burden of undernutrition and overnutrition among elderly in India.
To create awareness among elderly population and their family members the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has developed Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials including nutritional aspects in elder age group {under National Programme for the Health Care for the Elderly (NPHCE)} and shared with States/UTs.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is already implementing a scheme of Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens under which grant in aid is provided to implementing agencies like NGOs, Voluntary Organisations for running and maintenance of senior citizen homes, continuous care homes. Nutrition, shelter, health care, cloth, entertainment etc. are provided to indigent senior citizens living in such homes, for healthy ageing.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Sushri Pratima Bhoumik a written reply in the Lok Sabha on 5th April 2022.
