The long road to women empowerment 

As we approach our 76th year of Independence, we reflect upon what independence means to the women of the country, especially the old and often forgotten. Are they empowered ? Are they financially independent and secure? Are their specific health needs being met ? What is their reality today? According to a UNFPA report, 59% of older women do not have any personal income in the form of salary, interest, pension, etc. As per a HelpAge India report, the burden of caregiving for the elderly within a family, more often than not, falls on the female member of the family, who becomes the primary caretakers, especially for those elderly who face physical or functional limitations. From assisting elders in their activities of daily living, whether it be feeding them, helping them walk, bathe or change clothes, daughters-in-law followed by daughters are the primary Caregivers.

These roles are often taken for granted , in a largely patriarchal society, where the assumption of women being primary caretakers is given. HelpAge India’s report “ Bridge the Gap: Understanding Elder Needs,” revealed that 10% of elderly women face mental health issues like depression. 68.5% of elderly women are not covered under any health insurance and 50% of elderly women are financially dependent on family members’ remittances . More than half of all older women also carry a higher burden of both acute and chronic morbidity than their male counterparts .

Little or no sources of income or inadequate pension and lack of access to affordable healthcare, further leave them burdened with unaddressed health problems. Women belonging to the economically weaker or marginalized sections are at a further disadvantage . It is therefore imperative that older women be universally covered under social pension and a Care Allowance be provided to them. The PMJAY is an inclusive health assurance scheme and covers the poor, but a special focus on the elderly, particularly eligible elderly women, may be considered .

The first step towards including older women in the mainstream is by acknowledging that their challenges are unique and need to be addressed . The gap between health services and older women needs to be bridged immediately so they don't miss the benefits of the government-run programs or schemes dedicated to them. Healthcare insurance cover must be widened .

On a positive note, one-time saving schemes like the ‘Mahila Samman Bachat Patra’ are a welcome step. We hope that older women also get the benefits of this scheme. In agribusiness and green growth initiatives, older women play a very significant role. In rural and non-central areas, a lot of older women run small businesses. A notable section does this via Elder-Self-Help-Groups, a concept pioneered by HelpAge India. Large corporations must provide handholding , procure products from them which are mostly organic and fit very well with the ‘made in India’ concept of promoting local art and agriculture and invest in them to ensure their progress, as well as do smart business.

There is a heightened need to create more avenues for income generation for their inclusion as well as physical and mental well-being . There are various government pension schemes for widows or retired women, however, access to these schemes for many elderly women continues to be a challenge. Most importantly, society must take collective responsibility for its ageing women population and must come forward to support them financially and emotionally. Older women, the primary caretakers of society, must not be seen as a burden but as active contributing members.