Situational Analysis of the Elderly Parsis in India

–         S. Siva Raju

–         Tata Institute of Social Sciences

–         Deonar, Mumbai – 400 088.

Study sponsored by

UNESCO-PARZOR FOUNDATION, NEW DELHI

SUMMARY,IMPLICATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

India’s demographic transition, though it has decisively entered the second phase, exhibits wide variations across different religious groups. While most of the communities are still in this second phase, there are certain religious groups, most significantly the ‘Parsis’ who have entered the final stage of demographic transition. The data on population dynamics among the Parsis reveal that they have been experiencing a consistent decline in their population over a period of time. The Parsi population constitutes less than 0.01 per cent of the total population of the country. The age structure of the Parsi population shows that it is an ageing community, as the birth and death rates have declined. As a secondary effect, this has further reduced the proportion of children, resulting in ageing from the base.  The per cent of elderly population in the total population is as high as 31.0 per cent, as per the 2001 Census. In view of the high proportion of the Parsi elderly, their problems are multiple, viz., social, economic, psychological and physical including health. A scientific study of the elderly Parsis was attempted, mainly, to understand their living conditions in terms of their demographic background, socio-economic and health conditions, family and social involvement.

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