2025, Vol. 7, Issue 5, Part A

The study looks into how elements like age, gender, poverty, and cultural disintegration interact to produce distinct vulnerabilities in this population. Drawing on qualitative and secondary data, the study finds that older Paniya women experience deep emotional and social isolation, which is frequently aggravated by the dissolution of traditional support systems, limited access to healthcare and welfare programs, and deteriorating intergenerational links.

Despite their important roles as cultural custodians and caregivers, these women are usually overlooked and marginalized within family and community systems. Their psychological well-being is further harmed by economic uncertainty, low literacy, and limited mobility. However, the study also identifies coping techniques based on indigenous customs, spiritual beliefs, peer bonding, and occasional assistance from self-help groups and welfare programs. These procedures, while laudable, are unable to meet the depth of their psychosocial demands.

The study emphasizes the critical need for elder-inclusive tribe policy, culturally appropriate mental health care, and more robust community-based support structures. By focusing on the perspectives and experiences of elderly Paniya women, this study aims to inform social work practice, tribe welfare planning, and future academic research into the nexus of aging, gender, and indigeneity. Finally, the study advocates for a more inclusive and humane approach to aging in tribal communities, one that recognizes the dignity and knowledge of the elders.