The majority of older adults in India belong to the Hindu religion, followed by Muslim, Christian and Sikh religions, according to a new study. When Older Hindu adults constitute 82 per cent of the population, Muslim form 12 per cent, Christians three per cent and Sikhs two per cent, the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) said.
The study published recently found that majority of the older adults is from Mizoram and Lakshwadeep (99 per cent each), Meghalaya (82 per cent), Nagaland (90 per cent). Meanwhile, half of the respondents from the state of Arunachal Pradesh (about 54 per cent) and a third from Andaman and Nicobar Islands (34 per cent) are Christians.
The LASI said that 90 per cent of the older adults are Scheduled Tribe, 19 per cent Scheduled caste, 46 per cent Other Backward Class and 27 per cent none of them.
The Longitudinal Ageing Study in India is a national survey of the economic, social determinants, health and consequences of population ageing in India.
The study points out that about 51 per cent of the older population aged 45 and above have been staying in their present place of residence for 50 years. Of these, 41 per cent of the respondents stayed in the same locality since birth and 11 per cent for more than 50 years.
The study noted that about 34 per cent of them stayed for 25-49 years in the same place and 15 per cent for less than 25 years. Another finding is that 68 per cent of adult older men lived in the same place since their birth when compared to 20 per cent of older adult women.
