Status, decision-making role and expectations of older persons in rural Maharashtra, India

In traditional Indian society, older persons were key decision makers while younger generations would tend to comply with their decisions. This tradition has changed in the context of modernization and urbanization. This paper focuses on the status of older persons, their role, their decision-making power and the expectations they have of their children, society and the government. Data for this paper was collected from the rural areas of Amravati district in Maharashtra, using semi-structured interview schedules. A total of 600 respondents, both males and females, were interviewed. A systematic sampling technique was used for data collection. In addition to the issues cited above, the impact of various socio-economic characteristics on decision-making power and status is discussed.