SHILLONG: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched a ‘Longitudinal Ageing Study’ in India (LASI) to assess the health status of the elderly and to provide comprehensive longitudinal evidence based on health, economic, social and overall well being of people aged 45 years and above in the country.
The Ministry has appointed the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) as a nodal implementing agency to conduct the LASI project Main Wave -1 in 30 states and 6 Union Territories.
Under the project, the individual interviews from 1000 households will spread in 6 districts of the state – East Garo hills, West Garo Hills, East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi and Jaintia Hills. A 40 days training for survey team members from ‘Majestic Market Research and Support Services’ (Majestic MRSS) began on May 23.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, research consultant of MRSS, P.Thiagarajan said, “This is being conducted for the first time in India. Every two years, we will be going to the same household and individual to check on their development. This is a panel study.” MRSS is conducting the LASI in Meghalaya and Sikkim.
As for Meghalaya, he said, “In Meghalaya, the ageing process is very high in comparison to other Northern Indian states. In India, states like Kerela, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and Meghalaya people have more graying population.”