| Abstract: | This paper modifies the measurement of dependency and applies it to the Indian situation at the state level. It is generally believed that the aged are a burden on the family and the nation as they do not contribute to the national income. This is not always true. In India: 40 per cent of those aged 60 and over are working, which rises to 61 per cent in the case of males. On the other hand, there are adults (age group 15–59) who are not working and are dependants. In the measurement of dependency, adjustments for these factors are essential. This study employs three measures of dependency, namely (i) old age economic dependency, (ii) adult dependency and (iii) relative dependency. Based on these dependency ratios, inter-state variations and gender differentials in dependencies have been studied. The study shows that relative dependency of the old age population is lower than the adult population, and the opportunity of harvesting the demographic window is being missed in India. |
