The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `Ageing population may affect Indian economy'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 17, 2006
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Ageing population may affect Indian economy'

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: Health issues affecting the 40-plus age group may have a direct bearing on the national economy and overall productivity, president of Indian Andropause Society D. Narayana Reddy said here on Saturday.

Presiding over the Second National Conference on Aging Male, organised by the society, he said there were 100 million men in the age group of above 50.

One reason was that the average male life expectancy that was 40 in 1950s, reached 63 years in 2003 and was close to 70 years now.

The economic shape of the country could well depend on how healthy this segment of population was, he said.

Because there was no wide social security coverage as of now, the Government had no direct financial burden. But the economic cost if middle aged and older men cannot function well could be significant, Dr Reddy said.

Demographic studies showed that 50 per cent of all men aged 65 and above might be in India and China by 2025.

This could bring down economic growth in both countries. "India is slightly better off because our younger workforce will continue to grow till 2050. Even by 2020, the average Indian will be just 29 while it would be 37 in China," Dr. Reddy said.

Dr. Reddy said: "Problems related to the health of the aging male have escaped wider attention till now because most men are in a denial mood when it comes to their overall well being and issues like sexual health. There is no reason why their health issues cannot be attended to and their acquired skills used till quite late in life."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka