Career @ Gerontology/ Geriatric Care

Ranjan K Baruah *

We have been talking more about young India and youths of the country. There are some other areas which need focus and attention. There is more focus for the youths and making them human resources in the future. We talk about child rights or woman rights and at the same time it's time to think about elders of our society.

A report released by the United Nations Population Fund and HelpAge India suggests that India had 90 million elderly persons in 2011, with the number expected to grow to 173 million by 2026.

The State of Elderly in India Report 2014 is a first-of-its-kind attempt at documenting the current status of our elderly. This is a monumental task, considering that the elder population now stands at 100 million and is projected to grow to 324 million, constituting 20% of the total population, by 2050.

India is in a phase of demographic transition. As per the 1991 census, the population of the elderly in India was 57 million as compared with 20 million in 1951. There has been a sharp increase in the number of elderly persons between 1991 and 2001 and it has been projected that by the year 2050, the number of elderly people would rise to about 324 million.

Now, our readers might be wondering why we are talking about elders in our career section. Well, today we shall publish an option which is related to elders or care of the elderly. Many of us might be hearing this word for the first time. It is also a new term for many individuals. Well, we are talking about Gerontology or Geriatric Care.

Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological, cognitive, and biological aspects of aging. It is distinguished from geriatrics, which is the branch of medicine that specializes in the treatment of existing disease in older adults.

Gerontologists include researchers and practitioners in the fields of biology, nursing, medicine, criminology, dentistry, social work, physical and occupational therapy, psychology, psychiatry, sociology, economics, political science, architecture, geography, pharmacy, public health, housing, and anthropology.

The Constitution of India recognises the duty of the State towards the aged. Article 41 of the Constitution enjoins the State to make effective provision, within the limits of its economic capacity and development, for public assistance in the case of unemployment, old age and sickness.

And yet the State has not taken any initiatives in this regard, let alone made adequate provisions for the health and financial security of the elderly.

Updates:

Scholarships for Girls: Maulana Azad Education Foundation is providing Maulana Azad National Scholarship to meritorious girl students belonging to the six notified minority communities (i.e. Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Parsi, and Jain). Students, who have passed Class-X in 2016 with at least 55% marks, have confirmed admission in Class 11th and whose parent's annual total income from all resources is less than Rupees One Lakh may apply for the scholarships.

Last date for Online Registration of student is 15th November and last date for receipt of printed application forms with relevant documents in the office of MAEF 30th November.

Prime Minister's Scholarships Scheme: Eligible wards / widows of Ex-servicemen and Ex Indian Coast Guard personnel pursuing professional Degree Courses may apply for PMSS. The scheme is applicable only to those candidates who have joined the professional Courses in the Academic Year 20l6-17. Aspirants may apply online at the Kendriya Sainik Board's website. Last date to apply online for the PM's Scholarships is 15 Nov.