Kerala has long been described as a grey state, not because of political indecision but because of the colour of its demography. People in the state live longer than anywhere else in India. Life expectancy is among the highest in the country, comparable in many ways to developed nations. At the same time, the fertility rate has fallen sharply and is now close to that of several Western countries.

The younger generation, meanwhile, leaves in large numbers for foreign shores in search of education, employment, and prosperity. The result is unmistakable: Kerala is steadily becoming a society dominated by senior citizens. This transition has brought new social and economic challenges that cannot be handled through scattered welfare........

© Free Press Journal