"International Journal of Geography, Geology and Environment"

Author(s): Rabin Das

Abstract: Aging is increasingly becoming a critical social and geographical concern in rural India, where demographic transitions intersect with poverty, migration, and weakening community ties. This study investigates the patterns and processes of aging vulnerability and elderly abuse in the rural context of Kalagachhia Gram Panchayat under Khejuri-I CD Block, Purba Medinipur District, West Bengal. Using a socio-geographical lens, the research combines field-based household surveys, in-depth interviews, and spatial analysis to reveal the everyday struggles of older adults. Findings highlight that elderly persons face multiple dimensions of vulnerability economic dependence, physical neglect, emotional isolation, and gendered inequalities that are often intensified by rural social structures and intergenerational conflicts. Abuse manifests not only as physical or verbal mistreatment but also as exclusion from decision-making and denial of care. The geography of vulnerability is further shaped by migration-induced family fragmentation, declining traditional support systems, and limited institutional interventions. By situating these experiences within the broader rural landscape, the study underscores the need for inclusive policy frameworks, community sensitization, and localized welfare mechanisms to address the silent crisis of aging in rural Bengal. The paper contributes to the discourse on social justice, human geography, and rural development by offering empirical evidence on the intersection of age, space, and vulnerability.

DOI: 10.22271/27067483.2025.v7.i9b.421

Pages: 142-165 | Views: 437 | Downloads: 188

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