Sustainable Livelihoods for Elderly in India

Insights from Elders' Self-Help Groups and National Education Policy 2020

Abstract

The ageing population in India is increasing, which has led to an urgent need for sustainable livelihood opportunities for the elderly. This paper aims to identify the opportunities and constraints towards achieving sustainable livelihoods for India's elderly population. Additionally, in this context, this paper attempts to explore the role of the new education policy of India 2020 (NEP, 2020) in enhancing the sustainable livelihoods of older adults in India. This review paper uses a qualitative approach to analyze the existing literature on elderly livelihoods in India and the provisions mentioned in the NEP 2020 to understand the challenges and opportunities related to elderly livelihoods. The review finds that along with many challenges, also there are several positive opportunities exist for improving livelihoods, such as skill development programs offered by the Government and Non-Governmental agencies. The New Education Policy of India (NEP-2020) has several provisions that can positively impact the livelihoods of the elderly population, the policy's emphasis on lifelong learning, vocational education and training, digital literacy, and intergenerational learning can enable older adults to remain active and productive members of society, in addition to, several pension and saving schemes, and community-based initiatives, i.e., Elders' Self-Help Groups (ESHGs).