---

Aging is a natural process, whereas old age is arbitrary. Aging need not have primary or single cause. According to Stewart & Senis (1961) "aging is a collective term for all those progressive deteriorating changes that occur in life with increase in age". "The process of aging obviously affects every type of social group and indeed every type of social relationship in all societies" (Goody, 1973). The ageing of populations is on the increase world over in recent times. Advancements in medicare, improvement in living conditions and the general quality of life and effective measures for birth control could be attributed for this emerging global phenomenon. A population is said to be ageing, in demographic terms, when the proportion of the older people increases and the proportion of youth and children decreases.

---

Dr.Konda Ramalinga Reddy M.Sc.,M.Phil.,Ph.D in Anthropology. He has published several research articles on tribals and marginalised groups in international reputed journals. He has been working as a consultant for sevaral NGO´s in Andhra Pradesh. His interests on Research is health, aging,

---