Two population sub-group at the two ends of the age spectrum-young adolescents and elderly perons-- are posing an increasing challenge to countries across the globe in providing medical, social and financial care for them. Focussing on the growing needs of these two vulnerable generations, the 1998 report on "State of World Population ", brought out by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) , says with increasing life expectancy and declining fertility, these two sub-groups are increasing at a fast pace.