Issues concerned with older adults, particularly their healthcare adapted to their ageing bodies and disturbed minds, both from the social science angles and as a medical speciality seem to have suffered very low attention by successive Governments as well as circles of cognoscenti who debate on various subjects centred on society’s welfare. The incumbent Union Government’s Finance Minister, as reported in the media, while presenting the 2019-20 budget proposals, hinted at raising the age of retirement for the Government staff, not forgetting to pinpoint that the measure was needed because of mounting pension funds, apart from life expectancy of India’s population at birth rising from 68 years to 79 years, the justification sounding an outlook that may rattle the retirees and also cause dismay. On an earlier occasion also another Finance Minister in the Union Government had gone on record proposing a cut-off age after which pension payment was to cease. The pension-drawing retirees, however, have been spared the axe as it were facilitating them to be economically in a state of comfort to whatever extent in the matter of paying for their medical bills.
As often highlighted in various circles of public speakers and writers of articles in dailies, the boundless benefits of the now-vanishing joint family structure of society to all the members are no longer enjoyed by present generation, particularly in urban space. The younger members seem to have forsaken their duty to redeem the debt of gratitude to their parents and grandparents.
