Social Security for the Elderly in Goa, India

Abstract

The demographic transition in India and Goa is compared. The Goan society is noticed to be greying at a faster rate than the Indian society. The question is posed: whether the public, the government or the elderly have taken note of this demographic transition? If so, what preparations are made to ensure a better quality of life for the elderly? While answering these questions the author attempts to provide an understanding of the implications of demographic transition and social transformation for the category of elderly in Goa. The author takes into account three types of conscious efforts at enabling the elderly to live a better life namely, the political and administrative, the interventionist, and the voluntaristic. He argues that pluralism, the perspective that any socio-cultural or demographic situation is because of multiple causation and, in turn, leads to both anticipated and unanticipated situations, should guide the philosophy and practice of social security for the elderly.