Background
The ageing population has emerged as one of the defining demographic transformations of the twenty-first century. While much of the global discourse has focused on ageing in high-income countries, low- and middle-income countries are experiencing a much faster demographic transition under comparatively weaker health, social protection and long-term care systems (United Nations, 2023). South Asia is projected to witness one of the largest increases in its older population over the coming decades, creating significant challenges for governments, communities and development institutions.
Northeast India and its neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and Nepal, represent a unique yet under-researched region within the global ageing discourse. Although these regions currently have a relatively younger population compared to many other parts of India, declining fertility, increasing life expectancy and sustained outmigration of younger populations are accelerating demographic ageing. These demographic trends indicate that the region is approaching a critical stage where ageing-related concerns will increasingly influence health systems, labour markets, social protection programmes and development planning. Despite these demographic changes, ageing has remained largely absent from regional development agendas. Existing policy discussions continue to prioritise maternal and child health, employment generation and poverty reduction, while the multidimensional needs of older adults receive relatively limited attention. Older persons frequently experience intersecting disadvantages arising from poverty, chronic illness, disability, social exclusion, environmental vulnerability and declining family support. These challenges are further intensified by geographical isolation, fragile infrastructure, ethnic conflicts, climate-induced disasters and migration, all of which characterise large parts of Northeast India and neighbouring countries (WHO, 2024).
The region also presents distinctive social and political contexts that differentiate it from many other parts of South Asia. Borderland dynamics, refugee movements, internal displacement, ethnic clashes, indigenous communities, recurrent flooding and fragile mountain ecosystems create additional vulnerabilities for older populations. Urbanisation further complicates the ageing experience, where growing numbers of older adults now reside in informal settlements, overcrowded housing, inadequate sanitation and limited healthcare services contribute to a substantial burden of non-communicable diseases. Even for other groups residing in the cities, vulnerabilities in access to infrastructure, security, and safety require adequate attention and policy intervention. These developments call for a comprehensive regional dialogue that moves beyond viewing ageing solely as a health issue. Instead, ageing must be recognised as a multidimensional development challenge that requires coordinated responses across health, social protection, disaster management, urban planning, environmental governance, and community development.
Ageing & Sustainable Futures Conference aims to bring together researchers, students, policymakers and practitioners to share research, exchange ideas and build collaborations on ageing and development. The Conference will provide a platform for discussing key issues such as health, care, labour, poverty, social protection, migration, displacement, climate change and sustainable development in the context of population ageing. It will also offer an opportunity for doctoral and early-career researchers to present their work, receive feedback from experts and engage in meaningful academic discussions. The conference will be jointly organised by the Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development (OKDISCD), Guwahati, Utrecht University, the Netherlands, and the Young Scholars Initiative (YSI) of the Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET), New York, USA. The conference, scheduled for 8 - 10 February 2027, aims to strengthen research networks and foster policy dialogue on ageing in South Asia.
Thus, the proposed conference would deliberate on, but not be limited to, the following subthemes:
1. Demographic Change and Population Ageing
2. Ageing, Indigenous Communities and Intergenerational Knowledge
3. Ageing, Health and Long-term Care
4. Ageing, Labour and Social Protection
5. Ageing, Gender and disability
6. Ageing, Poverty and Life-course Inequalities
7. Ageing in Urban Slums and Other Settlements
8. Ageing, Migration and Displacement
9. Climate Change, Disasters and Resilient Ageing
10. Age-friendly Policies, Governance and Innovation
Conference Structure
The two-and-a-half-day conference will comprise a pre-conference workshop (half-day), keynote addresses, young scholars' sessions, invited speakers' sessions, and a stakeholder interaction session.