Almost all the youngsters of Ghisar village are in Pune city for work, hunting for jobs or struggling to make a living. The same holds true of almost all the villages in Velhe taluk of Pune district. One can see young faces only during festivals. Surrounded by hills and unfertile rocky land, agricultural income is often not sufficient. Unfortunately, there is no other major livelihood opportunity in the vicinity.
With no young people around, the elderly had to change their lifestyle. They have to wait for proper medical care for weeks until the youth return and take them to a hospital. The primary health center (PHC) in Pasli caters to Ghisar village. But travelling to Pasli is not practical as it is 35 km away; commuting to the rural health center (RHC) at Velhe (21 km) is a better option.
However, higher referral centers ask for a referral letter from Pasli PHC for getting concession. In the absence of youth to assist them, it is difficult for the elderly even to seek proper healthcare during emergencies.
Changing demography
Unlike high-income countries, Indian rural elderly rely on the youth in the family. However, the situation is changing fast. Villages, once prosperous with people and culture, have a skewed population today. Villages today have a higher older (more than 60 years) population than ever.
According to Census 2011, 70.56% of the elderly are in rural areas as against 29.44% in urban areas. This is seen more in rapidly urbanizing states. Maharashtra is the third after Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the list of rapidly urbanizing states, if the statistics are compared with that of Census 2001.
However, in absolute numbers, Maharashtra ranks first, with more than 50 million people residing in urban areas. These urban centers have an increasing need for human resources, especially in the informal and semi-formal service sectors that attract rural youth.
The youth in villages are frustrated, as they see no scope for their aspirations or development in their villages. Disheartened by lack of money and daily hardship, they move to cities in droves. There is also reverse migration of the elderly from cities to villages after retirement.
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