Health status of the elderly and their labour force participation in the selected states of India

Soumitra Ghosh, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

As of 2004, India has 75 million elderly people, second only to China. Therefore, the economic, health and social security conditions of Indian elderly are issues of great concern. The analysis of 1999-2000 National Sample Survey data shows that 63 percent of men and 58 per cent of women continue to work and are economically active beyond the age of 60. A number of studies show that the health status of the aged plays an important role in determining whether or not they participate in the work force. This paper examines the pattern of morbidity prevalence, disabilities and work force participation among the elderly and linkages between the health status and labour force participation of the elderly for the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Punjab. The 52nd round (1995-96) of the National Sample Survey data on ‘ morbidity and health care’ and Census 2001 will be used for the study.