Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) Wave-1, India Report released

Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) Wave-1, India Report released

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I – Society

In news 

• Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) Wave-1,India Report was recently released. 

• Released by: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 

Key takeaways 

• LASI will provide an evidence base for national and state level programmes and policies for elderly population. 
• A unique feature of LASI is the coverage of comprehensive biomarkers. 
• No other survey in India collects detailed data on health and biomarkers together with information on family and social network, income, assets, and consumption. 
• LASI is a full–scale national survey of scientific investigation of the health, economic, and social determinants and consequences of population ageing in India. 
• The LASI, Wave 1 covered a baseline sample of 72,250 individuals aged 45 and above and their spouses including 31,464 elderly persons aged 60 and above and 6,749 oldest-old persons aged 75 and above from all States and Union Territories (UTs) of India (excluding Sikkim).
• It is India’s first and the world’s largest ever survey that provides a longitudinal database for designing policies and programmes for the older population.
• The evidence from LASI will be used to further strengthen and broaden the scope of National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly. 
• It will also help in establishing a range of preventive and health care programmes for older population and most vulnerable among them.

Do you know? 

• In 2011 census, the 60+ population accounted for 8.6% of India’s population, accounting for 103 million elderly people. 
• Growing at around 3% annually, the number of elderly age population will rise to 319 million in 2050.
• 75% of the elderly people suffer from one or the other chronic disease. 
• 40% of the elderly people have one or the other disability and 20% have issues related to mental health.