Understanding population ageing in India: A case study of Maharashtra

Maharashtra, in the west peninsular region of India, is the third largest, one of the most industrialized and urbanized, affluent Indian state. Geographically it constitutes 9.84 per cent of the total area of India and is the second most populated state after Uttar Pradesh. Its economic growth and achievements are comparable to that of East Asian countries. The state produces 19 per cent of the country’s industrial output, 15 per cent of service output, and about 13 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product.

Maharashtra is rapidly ageing. It is the fifth Indian state with the highest concentration of elderly population. In merely 16 years, nearly 13 percent of state’s population will be the elderly. The number of older persons in India has increased nearly four times since 1950s. The 2001census noted around 76.6 million elderly; their figure is expected to rise to 1149 million by the mid-21^st century. According to the Population Division of United Nations although the world elderly population will remain concentrated in the economically developed countries, the number of elderly will be disproportionately large in two densely populated countries, India and China.

It is urgent and important to understand the ageing phenomenon in India. Findings from a detailed analysis of Maharashtra’s ageing shows that on aggregate population is ageing but the phenomenon is largely localized in some districts, associated with the rural areas, particularly those having lower standard of living, higher fertility levels, lower degree of urbanization and poor agricultural conditions. The experience of economically advanced countries has been to the contrary. Therefore, this paper draws insights into how to understand ageing in India, with reference to Maharashtra; investigates the extent to which distress internal migration influences ageing at district level; also develops a critique of perspectives and policy approaches towards population ageing in India.