Punjab has long been known for its vibrant culture, hardworking spirit, and deep family traditions. Yet, hidden behind this lively picture is a growing crisis that rarely gets the attention it deserves — the condition of its elderly population. Once respected as the moral and emotional backbone of families, today many senior citizens live in isolation, battling poor health, financial stress, and emotional neglect. The issue is not confined to individual families but is becoming a pressing social and demographic challenge.
The demographic shift is evident in the numbers. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), India has entered the league of aging nations like Japan and China. In 2025, out of a population of 146.39 crore, 7.1% are above 65 years of age. While the proportion may appear modest, the speed of change is alarming. By 2050, India’s elderly population is projected to reach 347 million, almost one-fifth (20.2%) of the country’s total population. Punjab is feeling this shift even more strongly. With its high rate of youth migration abroad or to urban centers for work, countless parents and grandparents are left behind to manage their lives alone. Declining fertility rates, now at 1.9 nationally, mean fewer children will be available in the future to care for elders, creating an increasingly vulnerable population.
On the ground, the reality for many elders in Punjab is harsh. Numerous elderly couples or widows live alone, surviving on small pensions or occasional remittances sent by children abroad. Healthcare remains their biggest struggle. Government hospitals are often overburdened, understaffed, and lack geriatric facilities, while private hospitals are financially out of reach for most. Pensions, such as those under the Old Age Pension Scheme, provide as little as ₹1,500–2,000 per month — barely enough for medicines, let alone food or daily necessities. Social welfare homes, though present, are few, overcrowded, and often lack trained staff and proper facilities. Beyond physical needs, many elders suffer emotionally, feeling unwanted in their own homes as younger family members are absorbed by work and personal pressures. Loneliness is silently becoming one of the leading causes of depression among Punjab’s elderly.
While the government has introduced schemes such as the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) and the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, implementation remains weak. Pensions are frequently delayed, awareness of health programs is low, and legal protections are rarely enforced. Compared to states such as Kerala, which has built a strong network of old-age homes and healthcare outreach for the elderly, Punjab is still lagging in creating structured support systems.
Families also bear a crucial responsibility in ensuring the well-being of elders. Unfortunately, the erosion of joint family traditions and the pressures of migration and modern lifestyles have left many seniors without daily companionship. Some families continue to provide care and emotional support despite financial struggles, but such examples are increasingly rare. Respect, attention, and emotional connection — once a natural part of Punjabi culture — are slowly fading under the weight of contemporary challenges.
Addressing this crisis requires urgent action from both the government and society. Pension amounts need to be increased to realistically match the cost of living, healthcare must be made free or subsidized through senior citizen health cards, and more community centers should be built to offer social engagement and combat loneliness. Legal awareness campaigns are necessary so that elders can assert their rights under existing laws, and cultural initiatives can remind younger generations of their moral duties toward parents and grandparents.
Punjab owes much of its prosperity to its elderly — the farmers who fed the nation, the teachers who educated generations, and the workers who built its economy. To abandon them in their later years would not only be a social failure but also a betrayal of cultural values. The government must deliver on its promises, and families must rekindle the respect and care that elders deserve. Only then can Punjab ensure that its senior citizens live their remaining years with dignity, security, and love, reflecting the society’s true humanity and gratitude