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The traditional concept of the Indian family is distinct. An institution that is central to the livelihoods of many families and an integral source of care and sustenance for vulnerable groups such as young children and the older generation. Themes of loyalty and caregiving surround the concept of family in India, particularly within large, joint-family systems in which family are the primary source of support. However, literature suggests that there has been a noticeable shift in the structure of the family systems and household structures (figure 1)¹. Traditional practices such as homemade food and Indian festivals celebrated within the family, are slowly being replaced by western norms and culture². Literature shows a new pattern of nuclear household and Double Income-No-Kid (DINK) families is replacing traditional extended family living³. But why is this?

¸£Àû×ÅƬisation, urbanisation, mobility and increasing individualistic attitudes are a few of the factors covered in academia that aid in explaining this structural change². The older generation, with deep rooted views and traditions, suggest that it is a result of the youths prioritising money over family⁴. What we do know is that the socio-economic landscape of India is changing; with economic liberalisation contributing to the decline of the traditional agricultural and manufacturing industries, there has been a vast movement of people from rural to urban areas⁵ (as displayed in Figure 2). It is therefore no surprise that the young and economically active are seeking employment and better opportunities in the urban landscape, leaving behind the dated Caste system and traditional family structure⁵. Both fertility and mortality rates have declined, arguably a result of policy measures and scientific development, and this has also contributed to a change in demographic structure. It could be that the cultural shift in family structure is simply a natural response to the economic and demographic changes that India is experiencing.

What this means for society?

This structural shift has created new challenges to the older generation who would have previously relied on the family institution for social and economic support in this stage of their lives⁶. On a wider scale, in the past the government has relied on families to ensure the wellbeing of the elderly, but with the increasing popularity of nuclear households, the family networks are notably more fragile and uncertain⁶. With a high percentage of Indian people employed in the unorganised sector, their access to retirement benefits is minimal². Combined with the fact that among the population of single generation households, only 14% received economic support from family in 2011², the vulnerability of this population is clear.

However, although this shift has created challenges, the negative impacts must not undermine the positives that have emerged. The move away from tradition has allowed women to become independent from a patriarchal society in which they have the assumed roles of caregiving, and to compete against males in the job market⁵. It must be considered that change is not necessarily a negative, and past measures such as legalising the minimum age for marriage and changing inheritance laws for women can surely only be seen as progressive¹.

There is literature suggesting that the role of joint families has in fact been overstated and that they were only really prevalent in the higher castes, suggesting that the larger family networks were not the norm in reality¹. This is not to undermine the impacts of an ageing population, but instead suggest that less emphasis should be placed on the disintegration of family structure and present the idea that the change could be viewed as a transformation rather than a disintegration¹.

Looking forward

We need to understand these changes from a wider perspective and view cultural structures as fluid and adaptive to the social and economic environment, rather than static and consistent. The combination of the changing social environment and the ageing population is something that cannot be ignored, and we need to update policy and provisions to adapt to this. Family structures can no longer be relied on to support our ageing population; instead, policy measures such as pension policies and healthcare provisions will need to be strengthened to accommodate and maintain this changing demographic². This generation deserves our utmost support, but the familial assumption of care creates expectations on the younger generation that may no longer be economically desirable or feasible, and this is why the government needs to step up in response.

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