NEW DELHI: India’s elderly population is expected to double by 2050, said UNFPA India chief Andrea Wojnar in an interview to PTI on Sunday. She further said that elderly women would be “more likely to live alone and face poverty”.
With the Union Budget 2024 set to be presented on Tuesday, Wojnar said that there was a need for investment in healthcare, housing and pension schemes.
The population of individuals aged 60 and above is expected to double to 346 million by 2050.
‘India to be 50% urbanby 2050′
Highlighting a shift from rural to urban population, Wojnar said, “With India projected to be 50 per cent urban by 2050, building smart cities, strong infrastructure, and affordable housing is crucial to manage slum growth, air pollution, and environmental issues.”
“Urban plans should also consider women’s needs for safety and security, and access to health care and education and jobs to promote gender equality and improve overall quality of life,” she added.
‘Climate change can cause pregnancy complications’
Wojnar pointed out the effects of climate change on the demographics saying that it can affect reprodcutive health of people.
“Climate change can affect reproductive health, making it harder to conceive, causing pregnancy complications, and limiting healthcare access during emergencies. Addressing these issues is key for gender equality and sustainable development,” she said.
She also noted certain challenges in the implementation of national family planning programme.
“With 9.4% of family planning needs unmet and 7.5 per cent of pregnancies unplanned, according to the latest data from NFHS-5 (2019-21). This year’s theme supports efforts to improve access to contraceptives and family planning resources, particularly in high-need areas,” she said.
With the Union Budget 2024 set to be presented on Tuesday, Wojnar said that there was a need for investment in healthcare, housing and pension schemes.
The population of individuals aged 60 and above is expected to double to 346 million by 2050.
‘India to be 50% urbanby 2050′
Highlighting a shift from rural to urban population, Wojnar said, “With India projected to be 50 per cent urban by 2050, building smart cities, strong infrastructure, and affordable housing is crucial to manage slum growth, air pollution, and environmental issues.”
“Urban plans should also consider women’s needs for safety and security, and access to health care and education and jobs to promote gender equality and improve overall quality of life,” she added.
‘Climate change can cause pregnancy complications’
Wojnar pointed out the effects of climate change on the demographics saying that it can affect reprodcutive health of people.
“Climate change can affect reproductive health, making it harder to conceive, causing pregnancy complications, and limiting healthcare access during emergencies. Addressing these issues is key for gender equality and sustainable development,” she said.
She also noted certain challenges in the implementation of national family planning programme.
“With 9.4% of family planning needs unmet and 7.5 per cent of pregnancies unplanned, according to the latest data from NFHS-5 (2019-21). This year’s theme supports efforts to improve access to contraceptives and family planning resources, particularly in high-need areas,” she said.