The Elderly in India - a Challenge

Dr. Arvind KasthuriProfessor of Community MedicineDepartment of Community Health

St John’s Medical College Bangalore, India

The Indian population is the second largest in the world after China. The number ofelderly persons in India is more than the entire populations of Australia, New Zealandand the United Kingdom put together. The proportion of the elderly in the populationis also rising, as people have fewer children, and as life expectancy rises. But is thispopulation healthy, going by the WHO de�nition of health, which ismultidimensional? Are there impediments to the physical, mental, social andeconomic wellbeing of the Indian elderly? While the state has designed somemeasures to protect the health and welfare of its elderly population, there is a longand di�cult way ahead. The rays of hope provided by small and committed e�orts ofa few must scale up to provide meaningful direction as India gears up for thisimportant challenge – taking care of her elderly.

June 8, 2015 | 1:30-2:30 p.m. | Mayo 3-125