Relevance of Traditional Safety Net for Older People in Changing Societies: Some Evidence from Bangladesh

As well known, population ageing process is underway in many developing countries too giving rise to the increase of older population. This demographic development is a cause of concern in many of these countries, particularly in the realm of population management strategies, especially those relating to the quality of human life. In this context, in developing countries, the intergenerational relationship which used to serve as a protection base for older people is reemerging as a salient issue or drawing fresh attention.

Bangladesh as a country falls in the above category. the ageing of population is progressing fast in the country but to protect the interest of these growing number there is no adequate public policies/institutions, while at the same time, there are indications that due to ongoing socio-economic and cultural changes the traditional joint living protecting the welfare of older people are increasingly falling apart. In this context, the present study using national level data tried to assess the concurrent support provisions of older members and understand the changing behaviour of children who so far served as the sole provider to older parents.