Elderly population in India comprises of seven percent of the total population, making it the second largest elderly population in the world. It is expected to grow by 20 percent by 2050, with a 13 percent growth in oldest old women from the current nine percent. If we are to protect our elderly and help them lead a dignified life, without putting excessive burden on the working age population, it is imperative that we put social protection systems in place immediately. Growing elderly population requires greater inputs to ensure economic security, adequate food and nutrition and shelter, access to health care, water and sanitation. Traditionally the families used to support their old, but with the changes in the social milieu, growing economic instability, lack of employment opportunities, financial security is a growing problem for the elderly. To address this issue, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi has instituted a financial assistance scheme, popularly known as Old Age Pension Scheme to help reduce the poverty levels of the elderly. This research is an exercise to understand the relevance of such a pension/ assistance in the lives of the beneficiaries and how does even a small cash transfer aid the elderly escape the poverty trap. The research seeks insight into how the capabilities, entitlements and assets of the elderly are strengthened by the cash transfer and also looks at policy relevance of introducing a universal cash transfer programme for all elderly, instead of the current means-tested one.

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Messkoub, Mahmood
hdl.handle.net/2105/8731
Population Poverty and Social Development (PPSD)
International Institute of Social Studies

Tiwari, Anjali. (2010, December 17). Relevance of old age pension in the lives of the beneficiaries: a case study of north east district, Delhi. Population Poverty and Social Development (PPSD). Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/2105/8731