Problems Of The Aged In Unorganised Sector

The book attempts to sensitize the Indian public to the problems of the elderly poor of the unorganized sector which have assumed new dimensions because of the changed age pyramid, value system and withdrawal of family support. The senior citizens are faced with several problems such as loss of income and status, loneliness, helplessness, illness etc. and have either to live with deficits or make good the losses which they are bound to suffer. The problem of the elderly poor is, however, not only very acute but is also conceptually distinct from that of the affluent strata because they are not able to allocate funds for the old age. The study explodes the myth that family in India acts as support system for the aged persons. The younger members of the poor strata, who are themselves involved in a struggle for survival, can ill afford the burden of looking after the elderly kinsmen. It is the absence of alternative lighter work which renders these elderly poor unemployed and depends. As this study is based on an evaluation of the Old Age Pension Scheme. It highlights the limitations of the scheme and its implementation. It has been concluded that the problems of the aged poor can be dealt with at two levels first, by checking the circumstances which make them destitute and secondly, by evolving suitable alternative work activities. In the absence of these remedial measures their problems would remain perennial and a stage would come when Old Age Pension would not help in the amelioration of their problems. Since the theme of the book pertains to Social Gerontology, it has relevance for the students of Sociology in general and Social Work in particular. It would also appeal to policy makers, administrators and voluntary agencies who are interested in the amelioration of the problem of the elderly poor.