Globalization has undeniably reshaped various facets of society, and its impact on the aged population in India warrants critical examination. As India integrates further into the global economy, profound transformations are witnessed, affecting the elderly in multifaceted ways. On one hand, globalization has facilitated technological advancements and access to better healthcare, potentially enhancing the quality of life for the elderly through improved medical treatments and healthcare services. Additionally, globalization has opened up avenues for increased migration and remittances, which can have both positive and negative repercussions for the elderly, including potential support from migrant family members but also the risk of familial fragmentation and isolation. However, alongside these potential benefits, globalization has also exacerbated socio-economic inequalities, leading to disparities in access to resources, healthcare, and social protection, which disproportionately affect the aged population. Furthermore, the rapid changes brought about by globalization, including shifts in traditional family structures and cultural values, may exacerbate feelings of marginalization and disempowerment among the elderly. Thus, a comprehensive examination of the effects of globalization on the aged population in India necessitates an exploration of its nuanced impacts on their socio-economic well-being, health outcomes, and social integration.
Tags: Effects of globalization on Indian society.
Decoding the Question:
- In the Introduction, try to define globalization briefly.
- In Body, explain the positive and negative effects of globalization on the aged population.
- In Conclusion, try to summarize by showing how these challenges can be turned into an opportunity.
Answer:
Globalization is a product of urbanization and economic intensification, which has escalated since the 1970s. Globalised markets have created many of the features of modern life, including consumerism, increased cultural homogeneity, increased social polarisation, erosion of the sovereignty of nation-states, and delocalization of daily life. Similarly, it has intended and unintended effects on the aged population in India.
The consequences of globalization for older people are primarily disadvantageous.
Positive Effects of Globalisation on the Aged Population in India:
- Of the total population of the elderly, 70% are below the poverty line. The pension they receive from the government is highly inadequate. With the introduction of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), the situation has improved considerably.
- Average life expectancy has increased from 58 years in 1991 to 68 years in 2018, indicating that newer medicines and medical techniques are reaching the aged people.
- Due to globalisation, people have become more prosperous financially, and hence, they can save more for their old age.
- Due to the availability of information through technology, older people have become more aware of their rights regarding pensions, healthcare benefits, etc.
Negative Effects of Globalisation on the Aged Population in India:
- Access to healthcare among older populations is partly determined by government policy, influenced by global forces. For instance, in low-income countries, international organizations influence such policies, such as the International Monetary Fund and debt repayment programmes, which can determine how healthcare services are funded. This influences the affordability of such services for older people.
- Globalization has resulted in the greater availability of products like tobacco and fast food, leading to potentially detrimental lifestyle changes. International advertising and the expansion of branded products and chains of restaurants into different countries impose threats on the health of old age people.
- Globalization contributes to the restructuring of the redistributive economy. The globalization of labour resulted in lower wages and marked social stratification. Also, family life is altered with fewer relatives who must balance work and family obligations. All these lead the older people to be lonely, which could be problematic.
- In the developed world, the magnitude and absolute size of expenditure on programs for older people have made these the first to be targeted with financial cuts. In less developed countries, older people (women especially) have been amongst those most affected by the privatization of health care and the burden of debt repayments to the World Bank and the IMF.
While globalization represents a triumph of medical, social, and economic advances, it also presents tremendous challenges for the old age group in these aspects. When the demographic dividend recedes in India, we would be left with a staggering old age population who need to be taken care of. The good thing is that we have time to think and devise policies to be better prepared for it.
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