On Ageing, Health and Poverty in Rural India

In this paper, the trend and determinants of health and poverty among the elderly in rural
India is analysed. Two rounds of National Sample Survey (NSS) data for the year 1995-96
and 2004 are employed. The analysis has been done with independent and pooled datasets.
Our analysis shows that levels of consumption poverty have declined marginally between
1995-96 and 2004 while increased proportion of elderly with poor health status is continued.
Results suggest that poverty is one of the key determinants of health among elderly in rural
India.