Elderly population in Nagaland projected to reach 2.23 lakhs by 2030
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 10
Presently the elderly population in Nagaland stands at 1, 39, 494 as per 2011 census, or roughly around 7 percent of the total population.
Assuming that this proportion remains constant over the next 15 years, the number of old age people will increase to approximately 2.23 lakhs by 2030.
This was stated in the Nagaland Vision 2030 document.
The ageing population in the state will most likely affect the trajectory of socio-economic development in Nagaland. While it is a matter of relief that the people may live longer, this may increase expenditure on social services to mitigate the problem of age.
Pension or social security benefits are some matters that require to be addressed, the vision document stated adding that as the state prepares for a more secure 2030, and as new opportunities and jobs are created, especially in the unorganized sector, focus should also be to develop occupation based social security programmes for workers with individual contribution and employee contribution so as to lessen the burden of the benefit systems.
Establishing health insurances, which are occupation and gender specific will also ensure less burden for individuals as well as the state for old age related health care issues, it stated.
“The state must also prepare infrastructure to meet the aged related issues, for instance- establishing district wise and community owned old aged homes to address in dependency ratios, strengthening of PHCs in rural areas to address aged related health issues,” it added.
