Sunday, October 28, 2007
A Socio-Geographical Study of Ageing in Meghalaya:
A Comparative Study of East Khasi, Jaintia and West Garo Hills
S. Thangboi Zou
Ph.D Scholar (2007)
Department of Geography
North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong-793022
Abstract:
This article explains the socio-geographical analysis of ageing in Meghalaya by selectively investigating three districts such as Jaintia Hills, West Garo Hills and East Khasi Hills. Observing the trend from 1971 to 2001 it can be seen that ageing in the state shows normal growth till 1991, but it abruptly rises from 1991 onwards. This is due to improved medical facilities in the urban as well as rural areas. Nuclear family has started gaining its ground in the urban society, because of increasing number of members engaged in secondary and tertiary sectors of occupation. Due to family break up and other related problems, often, some of the aged members are left with no proper attention. The social issues arising from families are mostly caused by poverty especially in the rural areas. Comparatively, Garo Hill district has greater percentage of male aged while female aged are prominent in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
A Comparative Study of East Khasi, Jaintia and West Garo Hills
S. Thangboi Zou
Ph.D Scholar (2007)
Department of Geography
North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong-793022
Abstract:
This article explains the socio-geographical analysis of ageing in Meghalaya by selectively investigating three districts such as Jaintia Hills, West Garo Hills and East Khasi Hills. Observing the trend from 1971 to 2001 it can be seen that ageing in the state shows normal growth till 1991, but it abruptly rises from 1991 onwards. This is due to improved medical facilities in the urban as well as rural areas. Nuclear family has started gaining its ground in the urban society, because of increasing number of members engaged in secondary and tertiary sectors of occupation. Due to family break up and other related problems, often, some of the aged members are left with no proper attention. The social issues arising from families are mostly caused by poverty especially in the rural areas. Comparatively, Garo Hill district has greater percentage of male aged while female aged are prominent in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
Introduction
Ageing is a normal process in the life cycle of human being. Once a person is born he or she is destined to reach old stage provided good health and no untoward circumstances occur. The term is used to denote a determinate patterns of late life changes, changes eventually shown by all persons through varying rates and degrees. Ageing is said to be non selective, unlike, diseases, and spares no one. The concept of aged differs from one point view to another. Some defined the aged as one whose physical and mental faculties have started to crumble while functioning while others define it as whose thought and perceptions are in contrast with that of his or her children.
According to Gavrilov, et.al.(2003), ageing of is a summery terms for shifts in the age distribution (i.e. age structure) of population toward older ages. A direct consequences of the ongoing global fertility transition (decline) and of mortality decline at older ages, population ageing is expected to be among the most prominent among the global demographic trends of the 21st century.
In a strict demographic sense ageing refers to a proportional increase in the aged population and corresponding decrease in the proportion of child population as reflected in an age pyramid. The ageing of population is measured by increase in the proportion of the elderly people of the ‘retirement ages’. The definition of the retirement ages may relatively vary but a typical cut-off is 65 years, and these days a society is considered relatively old when the fraction of the population aged 65 and over exceeds 8-10 percent.
Nizamuddin, (2002) suggests the importance for a policy maker that as the population ageing process advances, the role of government, both regional and national will change because demands will change as well.” Population ageing is, in fact, progressing in many industrialized countries. However, developing countries whose fertility declines relatively early also experience rapid increase in their proportion of elderly people. This pattern is expected to continue over the next few decades, eventually affecting the entire world. To date, ageing indexes are much lower in developing countries than in the developed countries, but the proportional rise in the ageing index in developing countries is expected to be greater than in the developed countries.
Broadly speaking, the population is categorized into three different groups: The Young (0-14yrs), Adults (15-59yrs.) and (3) the Old (above 60yrs.). It is interesting to note that about 35.6 per cent of the world population is below the age of 15years, corresponding figures for the more developed region is 23 per cent and the developing region is 40 per cent. The adult group is sometimes further divided into sub groups as 16-34 and 35-59/64. The first group of the young adults is considered economically more active than the second sub group of older adults. The adult age group is biologically the most productive and demographically the most (Trewartha, 1969: 122).
In a strict demographic sense ageing refers to a proportional increase in the aged population and corresponding decrease in the proportion of child population as reflected in an age pyramid. The ageing of population is measured by increase in the proportion of the elderly people of the ‘retirement ages’. The definition of the retirement ages may relatively vary but a typical cut-off is 65 years, and these days a society is considered relatively old when the fraction of the population aged 65 and over exceeds 8-10 percent.
Nizamuddin, (2002) suggests the importance for a policy maker that as the population ageing process advances, the role of government, both regional and national will change because demands will change as well.” Population ageing is, in fact, progressing in many industrialized countries. However, developing countries whose fertility declines relatively early also experience rapid increase in their proportion of elderly people. This pattern is expected to continue over the next few decades, eventually affecting the entire world. To date, ageing indexes are much lower in developing countries than in the developed countries, but the proportional rise in the ageing index in developing countries is expected to be greater than in the developed countries.
Broadly speaking, the population is categorized into three different groups: The Young (0-14yrs), Adults (15-59yrs.) and (3) the Old (above 60yrs.). It is interesting to note that about 35.6 per cent of the world population is below the age of 15years, corresponding figures for the more developed region is 23 per cent and the developing region is 40 per cent. The adult group is sometimes further divided into sub groups as 16-34 and 35-59/64. The first group of the young adults is considered economically more active than the second sub group of older adults. The adult age group is biologically the most productive and demographically the most (Trewartha, 1969: 122).
The ‘old’ are those who have attained the age of 60 and above. Except in some less developed countries, this group includes largely the females who are economically most non productive and biologically non productive. On the other hand, unlike old women, the males belonging to this group usually remain economically still productive and biologically reproductive. The UN DESA, (2007) gives an account of the older persons that has been rising steadily from 8 percent in 1950 to 11 percent in 2007 which is expected to reach 23 percent on 2050.
There are certain socio-economic and demographic attributes that have telling effect on the condition of the aged in general. The demographic model assumes that the age-specific fertility and mortality rates remain constant over time and this result in a population with an age distribution that stabilizes and eventually become “time invariant” as well. Fertility decline has been said to be the determinant of population ageing. The effects of changes in mortality population ageing appear more intuitive, but are in fact more ambiguous. More specifically, mortality declines among infants, children and persons younger than the population mean age.
In the more developed regions, fertility is well below the replacement level. As a result of sustained decline occurring during the 20th century, the average total fertility rate in the more developed regions has dropped from an already low level of 2.8 children per woman in 2000-05. Presently, the total fertility rate is below the replacement level in particularly all industrialized countries. Fertility decline in the less developed regions later and has proceeded faster. Major fertility reduction in the less developed regions occurred, in general, during the last three decades of the 20th century. Over the last 50 years, the average total fertility rate in those regions dropped by more than 60 per cent, from 6.2 children per woman in 1950-55 to 2.9 in 2000-05 (Population Division, DESA & U.N).
Gavrilov (2003) also points out that in the Socio-economic context, it is associated with dramatic increase in the older retired population “relative to the shrinking population of working ages,” which leads to pressures on social support systems. In most developed countries rapid population ageing places a strong pressure on social security programs. The Population Division, DESA, United Nations gives two prominent socio economic characteristics of older population, viz. Labour force participation and Illiteracy rates. Labour force participation of the older population has declined world wide over the last decades. Over the past fifty years, labour force participation of persons aged 65 years over declined by more than 40 per cent at global level. In 1950, about 1 in every 3 persons aged 65 or over was in the labour force. In 2000, the ratio decreased to just less than in 1 in 5. Illiteracy among the older population is nearly universal in the more developed regions/countries; however, on the other hand, illiteracy remains high among the older population, especially in the developed regions.
Statement of the Problem and Significance of the Study.
The problem of ageing is one of the most and crucial phenomena in the modern age, which has become a very important topic of discussion. The problems faced by the aged today especially in the third world countries and developing countries are manifold. In socio-economic terms, there are several changes observed in the context of elderly through modernization and globalization. Ageing and poverty are widely observed trends. Only in the past few decades the attention of national societies and the world community has been drawn to the social, economic, political and scientific questions raised by the phenomenon of ageing in a massive scale. The twentieth century, however, has witnessed in many regions of the world the control of prenatal and infant mortality, a decline in birth rates, and improvement in nutrition, basic healthcare and control of many infectious diseases. This combination of factors has resulted in an increasing number of proportions of persons surviving into the advanced stages of life (Mohanty, 2002)
There are many problems faced by the elderly population in India. Northeastern Region, which is mostly tribal inhabited areas, has a different scenario based on the tribal society where joint family is still a prominent feature in some parts. Meghalaya, which is a tribal state and society base on matrilineal system, may have a different situation too. Generally, the problems faced by the aged may be categorized into two aspects: physical and social environments. The physical environments may consist of items such as dietary problems in the family, financial situation, health and sanitation, housing, movement to and fro, etc. As a matter of fact, the non-material aspects may include the mutual relationship between the aged and other members of the family and outside, such as the children, in-laws, etc.
The study of old age composition can become an effective tool for revealing the myriad problems faced by them in diverse areas more particularly in the social and health care sectors, family circles, dietary conditions, vis-à-vis rural-urban divide etc. In general, it also helps in raising the general awareness to the masses towards this persistent problem. It can be a useful tool for inviting the attention of the concerned authority more particularly the state’s administrations, NGOs and various other concerned organizations. The derived information furnished by the study can lend a helping hand to policy framers and planners in mitigating the numerous problems faced by the said section of society. In India, it is said that older population increased faster than the total population.
Selection of the Study Area
The state of Meghalaya is taken as the area of study, with special reference to three major districts – East Khasi Hill, West Garo Hill and Jaintia Hill. Geographically, the state is located in within 25º-26° N latitude and 90° – 93° E longitude.
The total area covers 22,429 sq. km. with population 2,318,822 comprising 1,176,087 (50.71%) males and 1,142,735(49.29%) females. During the decade 1991-2001, the population of Meghalaya has recorded a growth of 30.6 percent. The population is distributed in 418,850 households living in 6026 villages and 16 towns. The sex ratio of the population of the state is characterized by a deficit of women in the year 2001 as evident from a ratio of 972 females per 1000 males. As per 2001 census records 42.3 percent of the state’s population comprises of children in the age group 0-14 years. Population of the age group 15-59 years constitutes 53.0 percent and elderly population (60 years and above) accounts for 4.6 percent of the states population.
Problems of Ageing in Meghalaya have different social and economic implications. Various forces– socio-economic and biological are at work in the process of ageing. The matrilineal system of the society and its practice may also have a say on the problem of ageing in the state to some degrees. Besides, location (geographical) factors, that is, rural and urban settlement may also not be ruled out, because of the fact that great variation can be seen in the lifestyles and standard of living between the rural and urban residents.
Objectives of Study
An attempt is made to reveal the general ageing problem of the world, and, focus is made on the selected areas, i.e. Meghalaya (India), based on the demographic structure of the state from 1971 to 2001 ensures data. The objectives of our study can be briefly enumerated as below:
There are certain socio-economic and demographic attributes that have telling effect on the condition of the aged in general. The demographic model assumes that the age-specific fertility and mortality rates remain constant over time and this result in a population with an age distribution that stabilizes and eventually become “time invariant” as well. Fertility decline has been said to be the determinant of population ageing. The effects of changes in mortality population ageing appear more intuitive, but are in fact more ambiguous. More specifically, mortality declines among infants, children and persons younger than the population mean age.
In the more developed regions, fertility is well below the replacement level. As a result of sustained decline occurring during the 20th century, the average total fertility rate in the more developed regions has dropped from an already low level of 2.8 children per woman in 2000-05. Presently, the total fertility rate is below the replacement level in particularly all industrialized countries. Fertility decline in the less developed regions later and has proceeded faster. Major fertility reduction in the less developed regions occurred, in general, during the last three decades of the 20th century. Over the last 50 years, the average total fertility rate in those regions dropped by more than 60 per cent, from 6.2 children per woman in 1950-55 to 2.9 in 2000-05 (Population Division, DESA & U.N).
Gavrilov (2003) also points out that in the Socio-economic context, it is associated with dramatic increase in the older retired population “relative to the shrinking population of working ages,” which leads to pressures on social support systems. In most developed countries rapid population ageing places a strong pressure on social security programs. The Population Division, DESA, United Nations gives two prominent socio economic characteristics of older population, viz. Labour force participation and Illiteracy rates. Labour force participation of the older population has declined world wide over the last decades. Over the past fifty years, labour force participation of persons aged 65 years over declined by more than 40 per cent at global level. In 1950, about 1 in every 3 persons aged 65 or over was in the labour force. In 2000, the ratio decreased to just less than in 1 in 5. Illiteracy among the older population is nearly universal in the more developed regions/countries; however, on the other hand, illiteracy remains high among the older population, especially in the developed regions.
Statement of the Problem and Significance of the Study.
The problem of ageing is one of the most and crucial phenomena in the modern age, which has become a very important topic of discussion. The problems faced by the aged today especially in the third world countries and developing countries are manifold. In socio-economic terms, there are several changes observed in the context of elderly through modernization and globalization. Ageing and poverty are widely observed trends. Only in the past few decades the attention of national societies and the world community has been drawn to the social, economic, political and scientific questions raised by the phenomenon of ageing in a massive scale. The twentieth century, however, has witnessed in many regions of the world the control of prenatal and infant mortality, a decline in birth rates, and improvement in nutrition, basic healthcare and control of many infectious diseases. This combination of factors has resulted in an increasing number of proportions of persons surviving into the advanced stages of life (Mohanty, 2002)
There are many problems faced by the elderly population in India. Northeastern Region, which is mostly tribal inhabited areas, has a different scenario based on the tribal society where joint family is still a prominent feature in some parts. Meghalaya, which is a tribal state and society base on matrilineal system, may have a different situation too. Generally, the problems faced by the aged may be categorized into two aspects: physical and social environments. The physical environments may consist of items such as dietary problems in the family, financial situation, health and sanitation, housing, movement to and fro, etc. As a matter of fact, the non-material aspects may include the mutual relationship between the aged and other members of the family and outside, such as the children, in-laws, etc.
The study of old age composition can become an effective tool for revealing the myriad problems faced by them in diverse areas more particularly in the social and health care sectors, family circles, dietary conditions, vis-à-vis rural-urban divide etc. In general, it also helps in raising the general awareness to the masses towards this persistent problem. It can be a useful tool for inviting the attention of the concerned authority more particularly the state’s administrations, NGOs and various other concerned organizations. The derived information furnished by the study can lend a helping hand to policy framers and planners in mitigating the numerous problems faced by the said section of society. In India, it is said that older population increased faster than the total population.
Selection of the Study Area
The state of Meghalaya is taken as the area of study, with special reference to three major districts – East Khasi Hill, West Garo Hill and Jaintia Hill. Geographically, the state is located in within 25º-26° N latitude and 90° – 93° E longitude.
The total area covers 22,429 sq. km. with population 2,318,822 comprising 1,176,087 (50.71%) males and 1,142,735(49.29%) females. During the decade 1991-2001, the population of Meghalaya has recorded a growth of 30.6 percent. The population is distributed in 418,850 households living in 6026 villages and 16 towns. The sex ratio of the population of the state is characterized by a deficit of women in the year 2001 as evident from a ratio of 972 females per 1000 males. As per 2001 census records 42.3 percent of the state’s population comprises of children in the age group 0-14 years. Population of the age group 15-59 years constitutes 53.0 percent and elderly population (60 years and above) accounts for 4.6 percent of the states population.
Problems of Ageing in Meghalaya have different social and economic implications. Various forces– socio-economic and biological are at work in the process of ageing. The matrilineal system of the society and its practice may also have a say on the problem of ageing in the state to some degrees. Besides, location (geographical) factors, that is, rural and urban settlement may also not be ruled out, because of the fact that great variation can be seen in the lifestyles and standard of living between the rural and urban residents.
Objectives of Study
An attempt is made to reveal the general ageing problem of the world, and, focus is made on the selected areas, i.e. Meghalaya (India), based on the demographic structure of the state from 1971 to 2001 ensures data. The objectives of our study can be briefly enumerated as below:
1. To obtain a general outline of the age structure of the state and the selected micro areas,
2. To get information of the proportion of the aged in relation to the social and geographical implications
3. To study the changes over time and
4. To suggest some suitable remedial measures for the problems of the aged.
5. Sources of Data and Methodology.
The required data and materials on aged population in general and Meghalaya in particular are obtained mainly from secondary sources, such as Census of India – Meghalaya, published by the Directorate of Census Operations; published and unpublished theses and books, project reports, journals; internet websites – online, documented and published. Local non-governmental organizations are also consulted.
The following research methodology has been employed:
The grouped data of 5-years age group of the population of Meghalaya from the year 1971 to 2001 has been analyzed.
The age group has been classified further on the basis of sex, residence and then tabulated accordingly.Percentage share of each group is found out.
The change in the population is represented by using the formula:
Change in population = Base Year population – Current Year Population
For analysis of the data, the age group is further split into three distinct categories: The Young (0-14yrs.), Adults (15-59yrs.) and the Old/Aged (60 and above).
Other statistical methods of designing and analyzing data such as bar diagrams, pie diagrams; histograms, age-sex pyramid, etc. are employed to articulate the real characteristics.
3. To study the changes over time and
4. To suggest some suitable remedial measures for the problems of the aged.
5. Sources of Data and Methodology.
The required data and materials on aged population in general and Meghalaya in particular are obtained mainly from secondary sources, such as Census of India – Meghalaya, published by the Directorate of Census Operations; published and unpublished theses and books, project reports, journals; internet websites – online, documented and published. Local non-governmental organizations are also consulted.
The following research methodology has been employed:
The grouped data of 5-years age group of the population of Meghalaya from the year 1971 to 2001 has been analyzed.
The age group has been classified further on the basis of sex, residence and then tabulated accordingly.Percentage share of each group is found out.
The change in the population is represented by using the formula:
Change in population = Base Year population – Current Year Population
For analysis of the data, the age group is further split into three distinct categories: The Young (0-14yrs.), Adults (15-59yrs.) and the Old/Aged (60 and above).
Other statistical methods of designing and analyzing data such as bar diagrams, pie diagrams; histograms, age-sex pyramid, etc. are employed to articulate the real characteristics.
Ageing in Meghalaya
An attempt is made here to analyze the trend in the aged population in Meghalaya over the last three decades i.e. 1971-2001. An attempt is also made to extend the analysis to lower aggregative level such as district by selecting a few districts.
6.1 Pattern of Ageing in Meghalaya, 1971-2001
Table 6.1: Composition of different age groups in Meghalaya, 1971
Age group
Persons
%to Meghalaya
Male
%
Female
%
Young(0-14)
440,682
43.55
221,157
42.45
219,525
44.77
Adult(15-59)
523,828
51.74
273,899
52.58
249,929
50.97
Old (60+ )
41071
4.59
25755
4.94
20716
4.23
Age not stated
300
0.02
156
0.03
144
0.03
All Ages
1,005,881
100.00
520,967
100.00
490,314
100.00
Source: Census of India, Meghalaya, 1971
In 1971, Meghalaya had total population of 1,005,881 out of which the Young population (0-14 yrs.) accounted for 43.55 percent Adult (15-59yrs.) 51.74 percent and the old/aged (60 yrs. & above) constituted only 4.59 percent. About 42 percent of the ‘Young’ population consisted of males and 44 percent by females.
The adult or working population constituted the highest in numbers. The old, indeed, accounted for a meager 4.59 percent. Out of the total male population 4.94 percent is accounted by males and 4.23 by females.
It is significant to note that about 85.94 percent of the state’s population lives in rural areas. Around 44 percent of the rural segment consisted of the Young, 51 percent by the Adult and only 4.78 percent by the Old. The composition was almost similar in the urban areas indicating marginal rural urban difference in the aged. Both in rural and urban regions, male population dominated the older age group.
In 1981, the aged population accounted for 4.40 percent of the population of Meghalaya. The aged male accounted for 4.72 percent and the females 4.13 percent of the population in the state. The percentage share of the young population declined marginally.
According to 1981 census, the rural aged group accounted for about 4.52 percent, while the young/dependent group and adult/working group accounted for 43.57 percent and 51.87 percent respectively. About 4.72 percent of the rural aged was males while 4.13 percent consisted of females. The old population in the urban areas accounted for only 3.8 percent of the total rural population, out of which, 3.88 percent consisted of males and 4.04 percent by females.
The young population constituted about 42.23 percent; adult/working group 52.29 percent and the older group shared 4.43 percent in the year 1991. There were more than 18,000 people whose ages had not been stated categorically which were abnormally high.
According to 2001 census the population of Meghalaya increased from about 1.7 million to 2.3 millions. The young population exceeded 42 percent of the total population that means high dependent sections of population. However, the adult group of the population accounted for 53 percent. The old population accounts for 4.55 percent, which shows some increase in its share compared to previous decades. The aged males constituted 4.59 percent while the females accounted for 4.53 percent of the total old population.
Table-6.2: Composition of different age groups in Meghalaya, 2001
Age Group
Person
% to Meghalaya
Male
%
Female
%
Young (0-14)
980,877
42.3
496,697
42.23
484,180
42.37
Adult (15-59)
1,229,059
53
623,573
53.02
605,486
52.99
Old (60+)
105,726
4.55
54016
4.59
51710
4.53
Age not stated
3160
0.13
1801
0.15
1359
0.12
All Ages (Total)
2,318,822
100.00
1,176,087
100.00
1,142,735
100.00
Source: Census of India, Meghalaya 2001
The young age group of the rural population accounted for about 44.06 percent of the population as a whole. The adult group accounted for 51.19 percent, and the old age group constituted 4.59 percent. Of the total male population the aged males constituted 4.71 percent and females 4.48 percent. The adult population has almost equal proportion of both males and females i.e. 51.14 and 51.26 percent respectively.
The urban population of Meghalaya increased enormously from only 19 percent in 1981 to 29.59 percent in 2001. There has been good number of people migrating to urban areas from surrounding and far off rural villages. Town agglomeration has taken place in fast pace due to better education systems, health, job opportunities and others. However, the percentage shares of the different age categories remain almost constant. The young population holds 35.07 percent while the adult stands 60.42 percent that shows positive rise in it from 58.76 percent in 1981. The aged shares 4.4 percent of the entire urban population, out of which interestingly female (4.72%) population exceeds males (4.10%).
Growth of the Aged population in Meghalaya (1971-2001).
An attempt is made here to analyze the trend in the aged population in Meghalaya over the last three decades i.e. 1971-2001. An attempt is also made to extend the analysis to lower aggregative level such as district by selecting a few districts.
6.1 Pattern of Ageing in Meghalaya, 1971-2001
Table 6.1: Composition of different age groups in Meghalaya, 1971
Age group
Persons
%to Meghalaya
Male
%
Female
%
Young(0-14)
440,682
43.55
221,157
42.45
219,525
44.77
Adult(15-59)
523,828
51.74
273,899
52.58
249,929
50.97
Old (60+ )
41071
4.59
25755
4.94
20716
4.23
Age not stated
300
0.02
156
0.03
144
0.03
All Ages
1,005,881
100.00
520,967
100.00
490,314
100.00
Source: Census of India, Meghalaya, 1971
In 1971, Meghalaya had total population of 1,005,881 out of which the Young population (0-14 yrs.) accounted for 43.55 percent Adult (15-59yrs.) 51.74 percent and the old/aged (60 yrs. & above) constituted only 4.59 percent. About 42 percent of the ‘Young’ population consisted of males and 44 percent by females.
The adult or working population constituted the highest in numbers. The old, indeed, accounted for a meager 4.59 percent. Out of the total male population 4.94 percent is accounted by males and 4.23 by females.
It is significant to note that about 85.94 percent of the state’s population lives in rural areas. Around 44 percent of the rural segment consisted of the Young, 51 percent by the Adult and only 4.78 percent by the Old. The composition was almost similar in the urban areas indicating marginal rural urban difference in the aged. Both in rural and urban regions, male population dominated the older age group.
In 1981, the aged population accounted for 4.40 percent of the population of Meghalaya. The aged male accounted for 4.72 percent and the females 4.13 percent of the population in the state. The percentage share of the young population declined marginally.
According to 1981 census, the rural aged group accounted for about 4.52 percent, while the young/dependent group and adult/working group accounted for 43.57 percent and 51.87 percent respectively. About 4.72 percent of the rural aged was males while 4.13 percent consisted of females. The old population in the urban areas accounted for only 3.8 percent of the total rural population, out of which, 3.88 percent consisted of males and 4.04 percent by females.
The young population constituted about 42.23 percent; adult/working group 52.29 percent and the older group shared 4.43 percent in the year 1991. There were more than 18,000 people whose ages had not been stated categorically which were abnormally high.
According to 2001 census the population of Meghalaya increased from about 1.7 million to 2.3 millions. The young population exceeded 42 percent of the total population that means high dependent sections of population. However, the adult group of the population accounted for 53 percent. The old population accounts for 4.55 percent, which shows some increase in its share compared to previous decades. The aged males constituted 4.59 percent while the females accounted for 4.53 percent of the total old population.
Table-6.2: Composition of different age groups in Meghalaya, 2001
Age Group
Person
% to Meghalaya
Male
%
Female
%
Young (0-14)
980,877
42.3
496,697
42.23
484,180
42.37
Adult (15-59)
1,229,059
53
623,573
53.02
605,486
52.99
Old (60+)
105,726
4.55
54016
4.59
51710
4.53
Age not stated
3160
0.13
1801
0.15
1359
0.12
All Ages (Total)
2,318,822
100.00
1,176,087
100.00
1,142,735
100.00
Source: Census of India, Meghalaya 2001
The young age group of the rural population accounted for about 44.06 percent of the population as a whole. The adult group accounted for 51.19 percent, and the old age group constituted 4.59 percent. Of the total male population the aged males constituted 4.71 percent and females 4.48 percent. The adult population has almost equal proportion of both males and females i.e. 51.14 and 51.26 percent respectively.
The urban population of Meghalaya increased enormously from only 19 percent in 1981 to 29.59 percent in 2001. There has been good number of people migrating to urban areas from surrounding and far off rural villages. Town agglomeration has taken place in fast pace due to better education systems, health, job opportunities and others. However, the percentage shares of the different age categories remain almost constant. The young population holds 35.07 percent while the adult stands 60.42 percent that shows positive rise in it from 58.76 percent in 1981. The aged shares 4.4 percent of the entire urban population, out of which interestingly female (4.72%) population exceeds males (4.10%).
Growth of the Aged population in Meghalaya (1971-2001).
The decadal growth of the population of Meghalaya has been gradual, but fast indeed. The growth of population has been caused side by side by high birth rate and low death rate, which is attributed to improvement in health conditions and other medical facilities. However, in recent decades, fertility has been in the process of declining and resulted in increasing of the aged population. The Table 3.11 below shows the percentage increase in the aged population between 1971 and 2001:
Table-6.3: Growth of Age Groups between 1971 and 2001 in Meghalaya
1971 2001 1971-2001 1971-2001
Age Groups
Persons
Persons
Increase in number
% Growth
Young (0-14)
440,682
980,877
540,195
122.58
Adult (15-59)
523,828
1,229,059
705,231
134.63
Old (60+)
41,077
105,726
64,655
157.47
Age not stated
300
3,160
2,860
953.33
All Ages (total)
1,005,881
2,318,822
131,294
1368.01
Source: Census of India, Meghalaya 1971 & 2001
The number of aged population increased from 41,077 in the year 1971 to 64,665 in 2001, which shows a percentage increase of 157.47%. The young group has seen an increase of 122.58% while that of the adult has been 134.6%. Thus we can see that there is high increase in the population of the state in general. The largest increase has been noticed in the aged population.
Concluding Statement.
It is evident from the above analysis that the process of ageing is not strongly manifest in Meghalaya. The rural urban differences are also not very significant. Increase in old age population is very recent phenomenon, particularly since 1991. This may be indicative of ageing process to manifest in the coming years. The proportion of the aged remains static for the last three decades but suddenly shows some increase in the last census held in 2001. The reasons for static old age population may be due largely to large but in fluctuating birth rates which show some decline in the last decade. Interestingly the urban areas often show a lower proportion of the aged than that of the rural areas. This is in spite of high concentration of medical facilities in such areas. However, the total size of the aged is becoming larger and larger and their increase surpasses the rate at which the other two age groups are increasing in the last three decades. This feature alone should indicate that the process of ageing is in its nascent stage in Meghalaya.
Ageing in Jaintia, West Garo and East Khasi Hill districts
The composition of the aged population in the selected three districts has seen almost a similar trend of growth. East Khasi Hills district has always the highest number of population throughout the decades of 1971 to 2001, whereas, Jaintia Hills shows the lowest concentration of population. We shall see the trend of population distribution with respect to the different categories of the ages in the three selected districts of Meghalaya.
The United Khasi and Jaintia Hills (East Khasi Hills), 1971-2001
The present Khasi and Jaintia Hills were called United Khasi and Jaintia Hills in the past, prior to 1981 census, which was the combination of the whole of Khasi hills and Jaintia hills. In 1971, the then UK and Jaintia hill district had a total population of 605,084, which accounted for more than 60 percent of the State’s population. Out of this, about 51.5 percent consisted of males and 48.75 percent females (Table-7.1). About 78.23 percent of the population lived in rural areas, and the remaining 21.76 percent lived in urban areas. The rural males accounted for about 51.51 percent and the females of 48.63 percent of the urban population
Table 7.1: Population composition of different age categories in U.K & Jaintia Hills, 1971
Age Groups
No. of Persons
% to the district
Male
%
Female
%
Young (0-14)
259295
42.8
129423
41.47
128973
44.37
Adult (15-59)
319676
52.78
169210
54.22
149052
51.28
Old (60+)
25918
4.29
13358
4.28
12560
4.32
Age not stated
195
0.03
115
0.04
80
0.03
All ages (total)
605084
100.00
312106
100.00
290665
100.00
Source: Census of India – Meghalaya, 1971
Out of the total population of U.K and Jaintia Hills, the old age group comprised of 25918 or 4.29 percent, the young of 42.82 percent and the working/active group comprised 52.78 percent. The aged male comprised of 4.28 percent while 4.32 percent constituted by the female, out of the total male and female population respectively. The rural population has got 4.40 percent of aged group exceeding the district percentage; out of which 4.46 percent was shared by males and 4.35 percent by females. The urban areas had only 1.98 percent of the aged out of which 2.31 percent held by males and 4.15 percent by that of females.
In 1980s, the Khasi Hill was fragmented into three viz. East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills and Ribhoi districts. The capital city, Shillong is situated under the East Khasi Hill district. According to 1981 census, the population of East Khasi Hills numbering 511,414 accounted for 38.28 percent of Meghalaya’s population. The district had about 51.41 percent of male and 48.59 percent of female population. The district also had 22,552 aged shared 4.4 percent of the population, of which the males accounted for 4.39 percent while females 4.43 percent.
In 2001, the population of East Khasi Hills reaches 660,923 accounting for 28.50 percent of the State’s population. The district has 31,677 persons who are categorized as old. It accounts for 4.80 percent of the total district population, where the male group shares 2.16 percent and female 2.59 percent. One interesting point to note is that the female aged exceeded that of the males. Even in the case of working population, the percentage of female nearly equals the male population. In all, the female population is a little lower than that of the male.
Table 7.2: Age Composition of Population in East Khasi Hills, 2001
Age Groups
Person
% to the district
Males
%
Females
%
Young (0-14)
250,704
37.40
126,655
37.97
124,050
37.89
Adult (15-59)
377,828
57.70
192,185
57.62
185,643
56.71
Old (60+)
31,677
4.80
14,301
4.29
17,375
5.31
Age not stated
714
0.1
412
0.12
302
0.09
All Ages (Total)
660,923
100.00
333,553
100.00
327,370
100.00
Source: Census of India – Meghalaya, 2001
The table above shows the population of the rural areas in East Khasi Hills District. There are as many as 383,175 people in the district living in villages and that it comes to 57.80 percent of the total population (district). Here, the percentage of males and females is not much different. The old age category of the rural areas constitutes of 4.67 percent in which the male shares 4.18 percent and the male shares 5.18 percent of the population. It seems that the life longevity rate of the female is much higher than that of the male (Table-4.8).
The urban areas concentrate 42.20 percent of the total district population, which has been drastically increased from the previous years and decades (35.35% in 1981). These factors can me attributed to rural to urban migration for job opportunities as well as education and health facilities. The urban old population constituted for 4.95 percent of the population, out of which the female holds 4.44 percent and is much higher than that of the male, 5.48 percent.
So, all in all, we see that the share of aged population increased from 4.29 percent in 1971 to 4.40 percent in 1981 and to 4.95 percent in 2001 out of the district’s population of each decade. In number, it falls from 25918 in 1971 to 22552 in 1981 and then rises again to 31677 in 2001. There is an increase of 9125 persons between the two decades of 1981 and 2001.
Composition of Old Age in Garo Hills, 1971-2001
In 1971, there was no division of the Garo Hill district. It was still consolidated into only one administrative body, i.e. Garo Hill district. The district comprised of 406,615 populations in absolute number, standing for 40.42 percent of the State’s population. The aged population of the district accounted for 5.14 percent of the total district population as a whole. While the male aged shared 5.95 percent the female shared the remaining 4.33 percent.
The rural population numbering 388,126 accounted for 95.45 percent of the district populations. There were 199,793 males and 188,333 females. The rural aged population figured 17,520 and accounted for 4.51 percent of the rural population. Out of the total male, the male aged constituted 6.06 percent while females constituted 2.88 percent. The urban areas of Garo Hills had extremely less concentration of population. The urban populations had only 451 persons of old age category, which only stood for 3.0 percent of the same.
Table 7.3: Age Composition of Population in Garo Hills, 1971
Age Group
Person
% to Garo Hill
Male
%
Female
%
Young (0-14)
181,387
44.6
91,735
44.00
89,652
45.25
Adult (15-59)
204,152
50.2
104,325
50.04
99,827
50.39
Old (60+)
20,971
5.14
12,397
5.95
8,574
4.33
Age not stated
105
0.04
41
0.02
64
0.03
All Ages (total)
406,615
100.00
208,498
100.00
198,117
100.00
Source: Census of India – Meghalaya, 1971
For 1981 data, only the West Garo Hill district, out of the three present Garo districts, has been taken into consideration. The total population of the district in this year was 369,877 accounting for about 27.70 percent of the State’s population. There were 188,434 (50.9%) of males and 180,443 (48.7%) of females in the district. The aged/old populations accounted for 4.44 percent of the population while males and 3.28 percent by females shared 5.46 percent. The rural has as much as 105,077 aged/old populations holding 4.6 percent of the population. There were about 1216 aged persons, which constituted 3.08 percent of the urban population of West Garo Hills.
In 2001, there are 26,385 persons categorized as old (60+ years), accounting for 5 percent of the district population out of which there were 14,582 males and 11,803 females. The total number of populations of the district in 2001 is 518,398 holding 22.35 percent of the State’s populations. There were 263,425 (50.8%) of male and 254,966 (49.1%) of female population in the district (Table 7.4). The working group of the population accounts for more than 50 percent of the population. The rural areas of West Garo Hills supported a population of 459,412 people that holds 88.62 percent of the total district populations in 2001. The male and female populations are almost equal in proportion. The old age group has shared about 5.28 percent (24,205) of the population, out of which the male and female share 5.71 and 4.81 percent respectively.
Table 7.4: Age Composition of Population in West Garo Hills, 2001
Age Group
Person
% to the district
Males
%
Females
%
Young (0-14)
214,108
41.3
108,764
41.29
105,337
41.31
Adult (15-59)
277,118
53.45
139,622
53.00
137,496
53.93
Old (60+)
26,385
5.00
14,582
5.54
11,803
4.63
Age not stated
786
0.15
456
0.17
330
0.13
All Ages (Total)
518,397
100.00
263,424
100.00
254,966
100.00
Source: Census of India – Meghalaya, 2001
On the other hand, the urban population constitutes 58,978 accounting for 13.38 percent of the district population. The old age accounts for 3.69 percent of the areas, while the young age shares 35.85 and the adult 60.37 percent. Out of the total 2180 of aged population there are 1266 males and 915 females in all.
Thus, it may be stated that the population of West Garo hill district has been increasing gradually in decades. From 369877 peoples in 1981, it increased to 518397 in 2001, where there is 148,520 numbers of increases. The aged group also increased from 16,197 in 1981 to 26,385 in 2001, an increase of 10,190 peoples.
Composition of Old Age in Jaintia Hills, 1981
Jaintia Hill district was segregated from the U.K and Jaintia Hill district in the 1980s. According to 1981 census, the district had a population of 156,402 accounting for only 11.70 percent of the state’s populations. Out of the total aged 7,913 (5.22%), there were 3,715 males and 3,884 females. The female segment in the aged group was higher than that of the males (Table 7.5).
Table 7.5: Age Composition of Population in Jaintia Hills, 1981
Age Group
Total
% to Jaintia Hill
Male
%
Female
%
Young (0-14)
70,342
44.58
34,647
43.83
35,245
45.57
Adult (15-59)
78,624
49.89
40,454
51.17
38,170
49.35
Old (60+)
7,913
5.22
3,715
4.70
3,884
5.02
Age not stated
474
0.3
236
0.30
51
0.07
All Ages (total)
156,402
100.00
79,052
100.00
77,350
100.00
Source: Census of India – Meghalaya, 1981
The rural aged accounted for 6778 persons or 4.72 percent with 4.41 percent males and 5.04 percent females. Here, it can be noted that the latter exceeded the formal once again. The urban aged accounts for 4.2 percent of the urban population out of which the male shared 3.89 percent and female 4.59 percent. In this census year too the females greatly outnumbered the males in older age groups
In the year 2001, Jaintia Hills has total population of 299,108. Out of this, there are 149,891 (50.09%) and 149,217 (49.89%). The district accounts for 12.9 percent of the Meghalaya’s population. The aged has gone down in its percentage share to 3.92 percent in 2001 as against 5.22 percent in 1981. However, the number of females (6,535) still continues to be higher than that of the males (5,219) (Table 7.6).
Table 7.6: Age Composition of Population in Jaintia Hills, 2001
Age Groups
Persons
% to the district
Males
%
Females
%
Young (0-14)
138,501
46.3
69,376
46.28
69,125
46.33
Adult (15-59)
148,424
49.62
75,065
50.08
73,359
49.16
Old (60+)
11,754
3.92
5,219
3.48
6,535
4.38
Age not stated
429
0.14
231
0.15
198
0.13
All Ages (Total)
299,108
99.98
149,891
100.00
149,217
100.00
Source: Census of India – Meghalaya, 2001
About 91.6 percent of the population of Jaintia Hill district still lives in rural areas. The percentage share of the aged has come down to 3.94% in 2001 as against 4.72% in 1981. There are as many as 10,825 aged living in villages out of which the males number 4870 and females 5955 (Table 4.22). The urban population constitutes only around 8 percent of the district population. There are only 929 aged people living in the town and other urban settlements in the district according to 2001 census.
There is a fall in the percentage share of the in 2001 as compared to the proportion in 1981. However, the absolute figure of the aged has increased by more than double in 2001, and is still expected to rise further in the future too.
Table-4.24: Old Age Population in the Three Districts, 1971 – 2001
Districts
1971
% share
1981
% share
2001
%share
East Khasi Hills*
25918*
4.29
22552
4.4
31677
4.8
West Garo Hills*
20971*
5.14
15077
4.6
24205
5.28
Jaintia Hills*
----
----
7913
5.22
11754
3.93
* In 1971, there were only two districts in the State, viz. U.K & Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills.
Source: Census of India – Meghalaya
Concluding Statement.
It is evident from the above analysis that the process of ageing is unfolding differently in different areas of Meghalaya as understood from an inter district comparison made from among a few selected districts. While East Khasi district, the most urbanized of all districts show a constant rise in the proportion of the aged, the Jaintia Hills reveal a reverse situation. The trend is not uniform in West Khasi Hills which showed a fall in the old age proportion in the year 1981 but increased significantly by the year 2001. Moreover, the females greatly outnumbered the males in the old age group only in Jaintia district and to some extent in East Khasi Hills. This is not true of West Khasi Hills. Rural urban differentiation is not highly conspicuous even at the district level.
Fig. 7.1: Number of the aged in the three districts, 1981-2001
Summary of Findings.
The analysis of the trend in the age composition in general and that of the old age population in Meghalaya in particular reveals significant changes during the period 1971 to 2001. This is due to improved medical facilities and health conditions. Mostly, the increase in the old age in Meghalaya has been more of a gradual process than abrupt. It co-exists side by side with the growth of the State’s population as a whole. However, there are certain features of social, economic and other related problems faced by the aged in Meghalaya that merits discussion.
Overview of the Socio-economic Problems:
Based on some oral and personal interviews conducted, there are problems that arise out of ageing in the society. The first problem may be sighted as social.
To some extent, the elderly experience neglect and discrimination in the family. The rural areas had certain features of problems regarding old age. Every member of the family has to go out for daily work in the fields or jungles and the elderly members are left alone at homes unattended. In urban areas, nuclear family has started gaining its ground in the urban society, because of increasing number of members engaged in secondary and tertiary sectors of occupation. Due to family breakdown and other related problems, some of the aged members are left behind without anyone to look after them.
Secondly, the health condition is also another dominant feature of old age. The food habits have to change after one has crossed certain limits in life. Many of them face health problems like constipation, diabetes, malnutrition, blood pressure, problems of joints, piles, heart diseases, urinary, cough, etc. Most of them suffer from one chronic problem or more. Since, they are suffering from physical inactiveness, they begin to lack in maintaining sanitation. The aged who are actively involved in manual and hard labor are more prone to catching diseases than others. This is a prevailing situation especially in the rural villages of Meghalaya.
Thirdly, they also have financial problem. The aged are no more engaged in any economical activities that they have to become dependent to their sons and daughters. There are certain cases where they have been deprived of financial care and other necessities. For some parents who are financially poor, the aged members have become burden to them. The widespread poverty also caused to inadequacy of attention given by the family members.
The financial crisis and other needs could have provided by the state/governmental institutions. In 1999 the Government of Meghalaya launched financial assistance of Rs.1200 each to the aged people of above 60 years. It also promised to give aids to local NGOs running welfare activities in the form of old age homes and other institutions. At present, there are only a few such centers opened in the state. Some of them which received financial assistance from the Govt. Scheme are – ‘Sister of Charity Mercy Home,’ Demthring, Shillong, ‘St. Xavier Society of Christ Jesus’, Tura, and ‘Socio Cultural Club’, Bolsalgre, South Garo Hills (Directorate of Social Security Service, Meghalaya). However, all these activities are not adequate to redress the grievances of the vast aged population in the State.
Table-6.3: Growth of Age Groups between 1971 and 2001 in Meghalaya
1971 2001 1971-2001 1971-2001
Age Groups
Persons
Persons
Increase in number
% Growth
Young (0-14)
440,682
980,877
540,195
122.58
Adult (15-59)
523,828
1,229,059
705,231
134.63
Old (60+)
41,077
105,726
64,655
157.47
Age not stated
300
3,160
2,860
953.33
All Ages (total)
1,005,881
2,318,822
131,294
1368.01
Source: Census of India, Meghalaya 1971 & 2001
The number of aged population increased from 41,077 in the year 1971 to 64,665 in 2001, which shows a percentage increase of 157.47%. The young group has seen an increase of 122.58% while that of the adult has been 134.6%. Thus we can see that there is high increase in the population of the state in general. The largest increase has been noticed in the aged population.
Concluding Statement.
It is evident from the above analysis that the process of ageing is not strongly manifest in Meghalaya. The rural urban differences are also not very significant. Increase in old age population is very recent phenomenon, particularly since 1991. This may be indicative of ageing process to manifest in the coming years. The proportion of the aged remains static for the last three decades but suddenly shows some increase in the last census held in 2001. The reasons for static old age population may be due largely to large but in fluctuating birth rates which show some decline in the last decade. Interestingly the urban areas often show a lower proportion of the aged than that of the rural areas. This is in spite of high concentration of medical facilities in such areas. However, the total size of the aged is becoming larger and larger and their increase surpasses the rate at which the other two age groups are increasing in the last three decades. This feature alone should indicate that the process of ageing is in its nascent stage in Meghalaya.
Ageing in Jaintia, West Garo and East Khasi Hill districts
The composition of the aged population in the selected three districts has seen almost a similar trend of growth. East Khasi Hills district has always the highest number of population throughout the decades of 1971 to 2001, whereas, Jaintia Hills shows the lowest concentration of population. We shall see the trend of population distribution with respect to the different categories of the ages in the three selected districts of Meghalaya.
The United Khasi and Jaintia Hills (East Khasi Hills), 1971-2001
The present Khasi and Jaintia Hills were called United Khasi and Jaintia Hills in the past, prior to 1981 census, which was the combination of the whole of Khasi hills and Jaintia hills. In 1971, the then UK and Jaintia hill district had a total population of 605,084, which accounted for more than 60 percent of the State’s population. Out of this, about 51.5 percent consisted of males and 48.75 percent females (Table-7.1). About 78.23 percent of the population lived in rural areas, and the remaining 21.76 percent lived in urban areas. The rural males accounted for about 51.51 percent and the females of 48.63 percent of the urban population
Table 7.1: Population composition of different age categories in U.K & Jaintia Hills, 1971
Age Groups
No. of Persons
% to the district
Male
%
Female
%
Young (0-14)
259295
42.8
129423
41.47
128973
44.37
Adult (15-59)
319676
52.78
169210
54.22
149052
51.28
Old (60+)
25918
4.29
13358
4.28
12560
4.32
Age not stated
195
0.03
115
0.04
80
0.03
All ages (total)
605084
100.00
312106
100.00
290665
100.00
Source: Census of India – Meghalaya, 1971
Out of the total population of U.K and Jaintia Hills, the old age group comprised of 25918 or 4.29 percent, the young of 42.82 percent and the working/active group comprised 52.78 percent. The aged male comprised of 4.28 percent while 4.32 percent constituted by the female, out of the total male and female population respectively. The rural population has got 4.40 percent of aged group exceeding the district percentage; out of which 4.46 percent was shared by males and 4.35 percent by females. The urban areas had only 1.98 percent of the aged out of which 2.31 percent held by males and 4.15 percent by that of females.
In 1980s, the Khasi Hill was fragmented into three viz. East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills and Ribhoi districts. The capital city, Shillong is situated under the East Khasi Hill district. According to 1981 census, the population of East Khasi Hills numbering 511,414 accounted for 38.28 percent of Meghalaya’s population. The district had about 51.41 percent of male and 48.59 percent of female population. The district also had 22,552 aged shared 4.4 percent of the population, of which the males accounted for 4.39 percent while females 4.43 percent.
In 2001, the population of East Khasi Hills reaches 660,923 accounting for 28.50 percent of the State’s population. The district has 31,677 persons who are categorized as old. It accounts for 4.80 percent of the total district population, where the male group shares 2.16 percent and female 2.59 percent. One interesting point to note is that the female aged exceeded that of the males. Even in the case of working population, the percentage of female nearly equals the male population. In all, the female population is a little lower than that of the male.
Table 7.2: Age Composition of Population in East Khasi Hills, 2001
Age Groups
Person
% to the district
Males
%
Females
%
Young (0-14)
250,704
37.40
126,655
37.97
124,050
37.89
Adult (15-59)
377,828
57.70
192,185
57.62
185,643
56.71
Old (60+)
31,677
4.80
14,301
4.29
17,375
5.31
Age not stated
714
0.1
412
0.12
302
0.09
All Ages (Total)
660,923
100.00
333,553
100.00
327,370
100.00
Source: Census of India – Meghalaya, 2001
The table above shows the population of the rural areas in East Khasi Hills District. There are as many as 383,175 people in the district living in villages and that it comes to 57.80 percent of the total population (district). Here, the percentage of males and females is not much different. The old age category of the rural areas constitutes of 4.67 percent in which the male shares 4.18 percent and the male shares 5.18 percent of the population. It seems that the life longevity rate of the female is much higher than that of the male (Table-4.8).
The urban areas concentrate 42.20 percent of the total district population, which has been drastically increased from the previous years and decades (35.35% in 1981). These factors can me attributed to rural to urban migration for job opportunities as well as education and health facilities. The urban old population constituted for 4.95 percent of the population, out of which the female holds 4.44 percent and is much higher than that of the male, 5.48 percent.
So, all in all, we see that the share of aged population increased from 4.29 percent in 1971 to 4.40 percent in 1981 and to 4.95 percent in 2001 out of the district’s population of each decade. In number, it falls from 25918 in 1971 to 22552 in 1981 and then rises again to 31677 in 2001. There is an increase of 9125 persons between the two decades of 1981 and 2001.
Composition of Old Age in Garo Hills, 1971-2001
In 1971, there was no division of the Garo Hill district. It was still consolidated into only one administrative body, i.e. Garo Hill district. The district comprised of 406,615 populations in absolute number, standing for 40.42 percent of the State’s population. The aged population of the district accounted for 5.14 percent of the total district population as a whole. While the male aged shared 5.95 percent the female shared the remaining 4.33 percent.
The rural population numbering 388,126 accounted for 95.45 percent of the district populations. There were 199,793 males and 188,333 females. The rural aged population figured 17,520 and accounted for 4.51 percent of the rural population. Out of the total male, the male aged constituted 6.06 percent while females constituted 2.88 percent. The urban areas of Garo Hills had extremely less concentration of population. The urban populations had only 451 persons of old age category, which only stood for 3.0 percent of the same.
Table 7.3: Age Composition of Population in Garo Hills, 1971
Age Group
Person
% to Garo Hill
Male
%
Female
%
Young (0-14)
181,387
44.6
91,735
44.00
89,652
45.25
Adult (15-59)
204,152
50.2
104,325
50.04
99,827
50.39
Old (60+)
20,971
5.14
12,397
5.95
8,574
4.33
Age not stated
105
0.04
41
0.02
64
0.03
All Ages (total)
406,615
100.00
208,498
100.00
198,117
100.00
Source: Census of India – Meghalaya, 1971
For 1981 data, only the West Garo Hill district, out of the three present Garo districts, has been taken into consideration. The total population of the district in this year was 369,877 accounting for about 27.70 percent of the State’s population. There were 188,434 (50.9%) of males and 180,443 (48.7%) of females in the district. The aged/old populations accounted for 4.44 percent of the population while males and 3.28 percent by females shared 5.46 percent. The rural has as much as 105,077 aged/old populations holding 4.6 percent of the population. There were about 1216 aged persons, which constituted 3.08 percent of the urban population of West Garo Hills.
In 2001, there are 26,385 persons categorized as old (60+ years), accounting for 5 percent of the district population out of which there were 14,582 males and 11,803 females. The total number of populations of the district in 2001 is 518,398 holding 22.35 percent of the State’s populations. There were 263,425 (50.8%) of male and 254,966 (49.1%) of female population in the district (Table 7.4). The working group of the population accounts for more than 50 percent of the population. The rural areas of West Garo Hills supported a population of 459,412 people that holds 88.62 percent of the total district populations in 2001. The male and female populations are almost equal in proportion. The old age group has shared about 5.28 percent (24,205) of the population, out of which the male and female share 5.71 and 4.81 percent respectively.
Table 7.4: Age Composition of Population in West Garo Hills, 2001
Age Group
Person
% to the district
Males
%
Females
%
Young (0-14)
214,108
41.3
108,764
41.29
105,337
41.31
Adult (15-59)
277,118
53.45
139,622
53.00
137,496
53.93
Old (60+)
26,385
5.00
14,582
5.54
11,803
4.63
Age not stated
786
0.15
456
0.17
330
0.13
All Ages (Total)
518,397
100.00
263,424
100.00
254,966
100.00
Source: Census of India – Meghalaya, 2001
On the other hand, the urban population constitutes 58,978 accounting for 13.38 percent of the district population. The old age accounts for 3.69 percent of the areas, while the young age shares 35.85 and the adult 60.37 percent. Out of the total 2180 of aged population there are 1266 males and 915 females in all.
Thus, it may be stated that the population of West Garo hill district has been increasing gradually in decades. From 369877 peoples in 1981, it increased to 518397 in 2001, where there is 148,520 numbers of increases. The aged group also increased from 16,197 in 1981 to 26,385 in 2001, an increase of 10,190 peoples.
Composition of Old Age in Jaintia Hills, 1981
Jaintia Hill district was segregated from the U.K and Jaintia Hill district in the 1980s. According to 1981 census, the district had a population of 156,402 accounting for only 11.70 percent of the state’s populations. Out of the total aged 7,913 (5.22%), there were 3,715 males and 3,884 females. The female segment in the aged group was higher than that of the males (Table 7.5).
Table 7.5: Age Composition of Population in Jaintia Hills, 1981
Age Group
Total
% to Jaintia Hill
Male
%
Female
%
Young (0-14)
70,342
44.58
34,647
43.83
35,245
45.57
Adult (15-59)
78,624
49.89
40,454
51.17
38,170
49.35
Old (60+)
7,913
5.22
3,715
4.70
3,884
5.02
Age not stated
474
0.3
236
0.30
51
0.07
All Ages (total)
156,402
100.00
79,052
100.00
77,350
100.00
Source: Census of India – Meghalaya, 1981
The rural aged accounted for 6778 persons or 4.72 percent with 4.41 percent males and 5.04 percent females. Here, it can be noted that the latter exceeded the formal once again. The urban aged accounts for 4.2 percent of the urban population out of which the male shared 3.89 percent and female 4.59 percent. In this census year too the females greatly outnumbered the males in older age groups
In the year 2001, Jaintia Hills has total population of 299,108. Out of this, there are 149,891 (50.09%) and 149,217 (49.89%). The district accounts for 12.9 percent of the Meghalaya’s population. The aged has gone down in its percentage share to 3.92 percent in 2001 as against 5.22 percent in 1981. However, the number of females (6,535) still continues to be higher than that of the males (5,219) (Table 7.6).
Table 7.6: Age Composition of Population in Jaintia Hills, 2001
Age Groups
Persons
% to the district
Males
%
Females
%
Young (0-14)
138,501
46.3
69,376
46.28
69,125
46.33
Adult (15-59)
148,424
49.62
75,065
50.08
73,359
49.16
Old (60+)
11,754
3.92
5,219
3.48
6,535
4.38
Age not stated
429
0.14
231
0.15
198
0.13
All Ages (Total)
299,108
99.98
149,891
100.00
149,217
100.00
Source: Census of India – Meghalaya, 2001
About 91.6 percent of the population of Jaintia Hill district still lives in rural areas. The percentage share of the aged has come down to 3.94% in 2001 as against 4.72% in 1981. There are as many as 10,825 aged living in villages out of which the males number 4870 and females 5955 (Table 4.22). The urban population constitutes only around 8 percent of the district population. There are only 929 aged people living in the town and other urban settlements in the district according to 2001 census.
There is a fall in the percentage share of the in 2001 as compared to the proportion in 1981. However, the absolute figure of the aged has increased by more than double in 2001, and is still expected to rise further in the future too.
Table-4.24: Old Age Population in the Three Districts, 1971 – 2001
Districts
1971
% share
1981
% share
2001
%share
East Khasi Hills*
25918*
4.29
22552
4.4
31677
4.8
West Garo Hills*
20971*
5.14
15077
4.6
24205
5.28
Jaintia Hills*
----
----
7913
5.22
11754
3.93
* In 1971, there were only two districts in the State, viz. U.K & Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills.
Source: Census of India – Meghalaya
Concluding Statement.
It is evident from the above analysis that the process of ageing is unfolding differently in different areas of Meghalaya as understood from an inter district comparison made from among a few selected districts. While East Khasi district, the most urbanized of all districts show a constant rise in the proportion of the aged, the Jaintia Hills reveal a reverse situation. The trend is not uniform in West Khasi Hills which showed a fall in the old age proportion in the year 1981 but increased significantly by the year 2001. Moreover, the females greatly outnumbered the males in the old age group only in Jaintia district and to some extent in East Khasi Hills. This is not true of West Khasi Hills. Rural urban differentiation is not highly conspicuous even at the district level.
Fig. 7.1: Number of the aged in the three districts, 1981-2001
Summary of Findings.
The analysis of the trend in the age composition in general and that of the old age population in Meghalaya in particular reveals significant changes during the period 1971 to 2001. This is due to improved medical facilities and health conditions. Mostly, the increase in the old age in Meghalaya has been more of a gradual process than abrupt. It co-exists side by side with the growth of the State’s population as a whole. However, there are certain features of social, economic and other related problems faced by the aged in Meghalaya that merits discussion.
Overview of the Socio-economic Problems:
Based on some oral and personal interviews conducted, there are problems that arise out of ageing in the society. The first problem may be sighted as social.
To some extent, the elderly experience neglect and discrimination in the family. The rural areas had certain features of problems regarding old age. Every member of the family has to go out for daily work in the fields or jungles and the elderly members are left alone at homes unattended. In urban areas, nuclear family has started gaining its ground in the urban society, because of increasing number of members engaged in secondary and tertiary sectors of occupation. Due to family breakdown and other related problems, some of the aged members are left behind without anyone to look after them.
Secondly, the health condition is also another dominant feature of old age. The food habits have to change after one has crossed certain limits in life. Many of them face health problems like constipation, diabetes, malnutrition, blood pressure, problems of joints, piles, heart diseases, urinary, cough, etc. Most of them suffer from one chronic problem or more. Since, they are suffering from physical inactiveness, they begin to lack in maintaining sanitation. The aged who are actively involved in manual and hard labor are more prone to catching diseases than others. This is a prevailing situation especially in the rural villages of Meghalaya.
Thirdly, they also have financial problem. The aged are no more engaged in any economical activities that they have to become dependent to their sons and daughters. There are certain cases where they have been deprived of financial care and other necessities. For some parents who are financially poor, the aged members have become burden to them. The widespread poverty also caused to inadequacy of attention given by the family members.
The financial crisis and other needs could have provided by the state/governmental institutions. In 1999 the Government of Meghalaya launched financial assistance of Rs.1200 each to the aged people of above 60 years. It also promised to give aids to local NGOs running welfare activities in the form of old age homes and other institutions. At present, there are only a few such centers opened in the state. Some of them which received financial assistance from the Govt. Scheme are – ‘Sister of Charity Mercy Home,’ Demthring, Shillong, ‘St. Xavier Society of Christ Jesus’, Tura, and ‘Socio Cultural Club’, Bolsalgre, South Garo Hills (Directorate of Social Security Service, Meghalaya). However, all these activities are not adequate to redress the grievances of the vast aged population in the State.
Suggested Measures
To solve the problems faced by the aged in the state may be a heavy task. Therefore collective and concerted effort should be taken by all sections of the society as a whole. Some of the remedial measures that can go a long way in redressing their problems may be as follows:
To solve the problems faced by the aged in the state may be a heavy task. Therefore collective and concerted effort should be taken by all sections of the society as a whole. Some of the remedial measures that can go a long way in redressing their problems may be as follows:
1. The social issues arising from families are mostly caused by poverty. Therefore, financial conditions of the aged should be taken into consideration at the first place. Old age schemes should be expanded further to cover and benefits all sections of society. This mainly means that both rural and urban areas should be given equal emphasis and attention. It has to be ensured that no mal- practice is found in the system of distribution.
2. Incentives and adequate financial assistance should be given to state, local and other NGOs doing such welfare activities. Steps should be taken by the government of Meghalaya to attract and encourage more people to open such welfare institutions.
3. Monthly pensions should be given them in a fair manner. Also, the amount of pension has to be high enough to enable to afford them decent life.
4. Comprehensive and free health care system should be given to them frequently. This facility has to be extended to even the remotest places of the State. The local NGOs have to see that their extension services reach all corners of the State.
5. In households, separate and special attention should be given to the aged such as separate toilets, bathrooms, dietary, and bedrooms and so on. All these items have to be arranged in such a way that the old have no physical problem of accessing them in movements.
6. The aged who are still physically and mentally active are being capable of work to certain degrees. Selection should be made to this category and some forms of works and activities should be allotted to them. For example, the Khasi-Garo and other tribal old men and women can be still employed in small scales and cottage industries and other job in which they are skilled.
Conclusion.
The aged population increases with the increase in general population. So, in one sense, it can be said that it has been a natural growth. Another feature found out here again is that, from 1971 to 1991 the number of male aged in the some districts had been greater than the females, however, from 2001, the females have surpassed the males. Jaintia Hills and East Khasi Hills have seen higher female population of the aged than that of males. Only Garo Hill districts have higher male aged than female. One persistent problem faced by the aged in the rural areas is location factor which creates difficulty of access in rendering services, and again for them to come down to the urban centres to get health care
The aged population increases with the increase in general population. So, in one sense, it can be said that it has been a natural growth. Another feature found out here again is that, from 1971 to 1991 the number of male aged in the some districts had been greater than the females, however, from 2001, the females have surpassed the males. Jaintia Hills and East Khasi Hills have seen higher female population of the aged than that of males. Only Garo Hill districts have higher male aged than female. One persistent problem faced by the aged in the rural areas is location factor which creates difficulty of access in rendering services, and again for them to come down to the urban centres to get health care
Last, but not the least, problems of ageing has to be reconsidered afresh by all the concern human kind. There are certain needs of the aged that have to be taken in to importance: need for financial security, need for medical care, need for physical support, and need for emotional and psychological support. So, voluntary organizations should start homes for the elderly who are physically, mentally, economically and socially unable to fend for themselves. These homes should give them some work, which they can do to make them feel useful.
References
Chandna, R.C. (2004): Geography of Population-Concepts, Determinants and Patterns, New
Delhi:Kalyani pub. Pp.298. (Chandna also obtained the sources from the UNDP, UNEP, WRI and WB (1996), World Resources, 1996-97, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 194 -195 and United Nations (1997): “Population and Vital Statistics Report, Statistical Report, Statistical Papers, Series A, Vol. XLIX, No.2, pp.4 – 15.)
Census of India, 1871, 1981, 1991 and 2001: Meghalaya, Directorate of Census Operations Pub. Govt. of Meghalaya.
Directorate of Social Security Service. Govt. & Meghalya (http://www.megsocial/ welfare.gov.in/sociodef.htm and http://www.ignca.nic.in/).
Dandekar, K. (1996): The Elderly in India, Saga Pub. India Pvt.Ltd. p.32
Gavrilov, A. et.al (2003): ‘Ageing of Population’, in Demeny and Geoffrey Mc (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of Population, New York: Macmillan Reference, USA
Mohanty, A (2002). “Population Ageing in India and the Effectiveness of Social Assistance Programme in Orissa – A Human Rights Perspective.” A paper presented to the 2nd World Assembly On Ageing, 8th-12th April 2002. Madrid, Spain. p.2
Nizamuddin, M. (2002): Population Ageing: Causes, Effects and Counter Measures, DESA & UNFDA, United Nations.pp.5-6. www.un.org/esa/population
Population Division, DESA, UN (2002): “World Population Ageing, 1950-2050”. http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/worldageing19502050/
Population Division, DESA, UN (2007): “World Population Ageing 2007”. http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/WPA2007/wpp2007.htm
Rammanamma, A. et.al (2002 ): “Sociological and Economic Perspective of Women and ageing” in P. Sudhakar Reddy, et.al (ed) Indian Society: Continuity Change and Development. New Delhi: Commonwealth. pp. 150
Trewartha, G.T (1969): A Geography of Population: World Patterns. New York: John Wiley & Sons pub.
References
Chandna, R.C. (2004): Geography of Population-Concepts, Determinants and Patterns, New
Delhi:Kalyani pub. Pp.298. (Chandna also obtained the sources from the UNDP, UNEP, WRI and WB (1996), World Resources, 1996-97, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 194 -195 and United Nations (1997): “Population and Vital Statistics Report, Statistical Report, Statistical Papers, Series A, Vol. XLIX, No.2, pp.4 – 15.)
Census of India, 1871, 1981, 1991 and 2001: Meghalaya, Directorate of Census Operations Pub. Govt. of Meghalaya.
Directorate of Social Security Service. Govt. & Meghalya (http://www.megsocial/ welfare.gov.in/sociodef.htm and http://www.ignca.nic.in/).
Dandekar, K. (1996): The Elderly in India, Saga Pub. India Pvt.Ltd. p.32
Gavrilov, A. et.al (2003): ‘Ageing of Population’, in Demeny and Geoffrey Mc (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of Population, New York: Macmillan Reference, USA
Mohanty, A (2002). “Population Ageing in India and the Effectiveness of Social Assistance Programme in Orissa – A Human Rights Perspective.” A paper presented to the 2nd World Assembly On Ageing, 8th-12th April 2002. Madrid, Spain. p.2
Nizamuddin, M. (2002): Population Ageing: Causes, Effects and Counter Measures, DESA & UNFDA, United Nations.pp.5-6. www.un.org/esa/population
Population Division, DESA, UN (2002): “World Population Ageing, 1950-2050”. http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/worldageing19502050/
Population Division, DESA, UN (2007): “World Population Ageing 2007”. http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/WPA2007/wpp2007.htm
Rammanamma, A. et.al (2002 ): “Sociological and Economic Perspective of Women and ageing” in P. Sudhakar Reddy, et.al (ed) Indian Society: Continuity Change and Development. New Delhi: Commonwealth. pp. 150
Trewartha, G.T (1969): A Geography of Population: World Patterns. New York: John Wiley & Sons pub.
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