Description

Laws, Justice and Rights for Women in the Modern Era
Editor: Prof. Dr. Yogesh Kumar Gupta, Ishan Ahmad and Premananda Murmu
Published by Universal Academic Books Publishers and Distributors,
New Delhi (India)
ISBN: 978-81-686113-5-1, 2026

Chapter 6

Elderly Woman and Law: Social Security, Care and Legal Protection

D. V. N. Murty
Assistant Professor, ICFAI Law School, IFHE, Hyderabad

Dr. M. Geetha Priyadarsani
Assistant Professor, ICFAI Law School, IFHE, Hyderabad

Abstract

The population globally above sixty years of age are considered as elderly population and it brings along the several challenges to the elderly. Elderly population which consists of both genders, sufferance of elderly woman is on a higher side in comparision to the elderly males given in a contemporary Indian society where most of the woman are dependent either their whole life as house wife or in their oldage being a working woman in their prime. Elderly woman experience several vulnerabilities such economic dependency, widowhood, health issues, loneliness and social neglect. Though international documents and constitutional guarantees protection and welfare of the elderly inclusive of woman they continue to face social insecurity, lack of proper health care, abuse, abandonment and limited access to justice. Every other day the social media and news channels highlight an elderly woman being abused either by the son or daughter-in-law or any family member who is in care of the elderly woman. Properties are taken away by coaxing the elderly woman in the name of care and later pushed out of the house. Some elderly woman could fight back and get back her property or protection from the court, this constitutes a meagre population but many women languish on streets and die an orphan death with nobody to look after.

The author in this chapter will try to highlight the increasing instances of elderly abuse, neglect, property related exploitation, and socio-economic marginalization of elderly woman in both rural and urban setting and will suggest measures for effective protection of elderly woman in society.

Keywords

Abuse, neglect, marginalization, social insecurity and abandonment.

1. INTRODUCTION

India is experiencing rapid demographic transition with profound implications for elderly women. There has been a steady increase senior citizens population, with women comprising a disproportionate share of the elderly population due to their longer life expectancy. Globally, women outnumber men in the 60+ age group, with this gender gap widening significantly after age 70. In India, approximately 54% of the elderly population consists of women, and this proportion increases to over 60% in the 80+ age category.