Economic Security Schemes for Elderly

The traditional norms and values of Indian society laid stress on showing respect and providing care for the elderly. Consequently, the older members of the family were normally taken care of in the family itself. The family, commonly the joint family type, and social networks provided an appropriate environment in which the elderly spent their lives. The advent of modernization, industrialization, urbanization, occupational differentiation, education, and growth of individual philosophy have eroded the traditional values that vested authority with elderly. . Unlike in the western countries, where there is dominant negative effect of modernization and urbanization of family, the situation in the developing countries like India is in favour of continuing the family as a unit for performing various activities .In spite of several economic and social problems, the younger generation generally looks after their elderly relatives. Though the young generation takes care of their elders in traditional societies, it is their living conditions and the quality of care, which widely differs from society to society.


Government under standardized economic security policy is covering retirement benefits for those in the organized sector, economic security benefits for those in the unorganised sector and old age pension for rural elderly.
As per the National Policy on Aging (1999), one-third of the elderly population (1993-94) is below the poverty line and about one-third are above it, but belonging to poverty line. NOAP scheme (National Old Age Pension Scheme) which is initiated by the Central Government provides for a pension of Rs.75/- per month to the old people living in the conditions of destitution. Most vulnerable sections of Indian society like, women, and lower caste individuals have been benefited from this scheme.




Help Age India (NGO)
HelpAge reaches out to the underprivileged elderly through its various services in the areas of financial, health and emotional security.


HelpAge is slowly moving from welfare to integrated age care services for the elderly in urban & rural areas. Expanding its scope of services quantitatively as well as qualitatively. In the recent past new services have been started such as Elder Helplines.