The Aged in India/K.G. Gurumurthy. 1998, xv, 170 p., tables, $15.
Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. General background of the aged. 3. Economic aspect of aging. 4. Health conditions of the aged. 5. Housing conditions of the aged. 6. Social life of the aged. 7. Pastime activities of the aged. 8. Services for the aged. 9. Conclusions and recommendations. Bibliography.
"The book is based on the findings of a research project funded by Government of India. The data are collected on 600 aged selected from rural areas. They were classified and studied under four categories: those with financial means and also some one to care; those with some one to care but not financial means; those with financial means but no one to care and those with neither financial means nor some one to care. Investigations were conducted on the social, economic, health, education, housing and pastime activities of the aged.
The study points out to many areas which need immediate action. On the basis of the opinion expressed by the aged, a few suggestions have also been made in the book for the benefit of the welfare workers, government agencies and the general public."
[K.G. Gurumurthy is presently professor of anthropology at Karnatak University.]