Ageing Problem and Old Age HOME in Sangli, India

The twentieth century has witnessed the widespread urbanization in the industrialized countries of Europe, North America and Japan. This drift is steadily spreading to the Third World countries too. The new industrial structure with its political and social value system together, tend to alter the social structure of society.

The industrial order tends to place greater emphasis on achievement and productivity. This so-called modern, political and civil society does have more emphasis on individual activities and achievements both. In India the position of old people in the society is still party rooted with past traditions and family norms. It is therefore relevant and worthwhile to examine the developments. The status and role of aged in the traditional society is a prelude to this particular research study.

In India we find rapid changes in economic and social aspects but are eroding traditional status and roles as well the support structures for the old persons. The urban literates are very well aware of the excessive demands made by urban industrial ethos on individual’s resources and these aged persons are facing many problems because they are neither offered with any pension scheme nor do they have any other needed social security.

The present research study focuses on the position of the traditional and modern values in determining the social positions and compensations for the old persons. In Sangli city, there are only two oldage homes. Under the study, out of 110 old persons 25 males and 25 females are selected from two oldage homes.. The honour and prestige, the aged enjoys with the family or contradictory, the extent of loss of status and roles they face, is assessed in the research paper.