“ Mathru devo bhava, pithru devo bhava” : treat the parents as gods, thus prescribe the Upanishads Filial reverence and care for the elderly in the families are taking a serious beating because of population increase, employment of women, high occupational mobility of younger generation, escalation in cost of living and changes in social structure , among other factors. Elder abuse is no more a rare phenomenon in Indian Society. Globally, it has been felt as a serious problem and from the year 2006, June 15 has been observed as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
A representative sample survey in Chennai city by the author more than ten years ago yielded unexpected results. 73% of the elderly respondents reported that “these days the old parents are ill-treated and neglected by the children.” They mentioned the different ways the aged experienced ill-treatment: shouting at them, making them wait for food, delaying or even avoiding medical treatment, leaving them in soiled clothes during sickness, not taking them to marriage or other social functions, not allowing them to visit neighbours to prevent “gossiping”, not consulting them on family matters, not introducing them to guests, and pushing or even beating them.
In a survey of 501 old persons in urban poor settlements in Chennai in 2006 by the author, 71% men and 76% women said they experienced ill-treatment in their families. They often suffered in silence for fear of reprisal in the family or shame in the community.
In the southern districts of Tamilnadu a cruel social practice of “thalaikoothal” is prevalent. That is, bedridden aged persons are given oil bath and served with tender coconut water on the hope that they would contract serious illness and die. The motive is often property-related , Burden of care giving is also a reason. Tamilnadu is not an exception. During Kumbhamela, held once in twelve years, millions of Hindus take a holy dip at theTriveni Sangamam. Many families not onlywasg their sins off, but their unwanted old parents by abandoning them.
In 2025 the population of India is estimated to be around 1200 million and the elderly segment will constitute about 160 million. A significant feature of the Indian demographic scenario is the “aging of the aged” which is manifested in the growing number of people aged 80 and above, who will be nearly 12 million in 2025. But the response of the central and state governments is quite inadequate and unimaginative. A national policy on older persons (NPOP) was drafted to be revised in 2011 because of poor implementation. The policy performance is not accountable to the Parliament, it is left to the mercy of the bureaucracy.
Old age pension for older persons in the BPL category who form the majority of the aged in the country is the only significant elder care service. Tamilnadu, Delhi and Goa are giving a monthly pension of Rs.1000 each, while in the other states the amount is more meagre. But the social assistance delivery system is cumbersome, arbitrary and insensitive. Delay in sanction, abrupt stoppage, denial of PDS service, and corruption are common experiences. Tamilnadu has recently introduced of distribution of social security amounts through individual bank accounts using smart cards with bio-metric identification of the beneficiaries. This initiative should be replicated in all states.
Political establishments in India are seldom proactive in responding to social needs. They are reactive depending, depending on the gravity of the agitations. Though the 60 plus persons are around 13 percent of the voters in elections, they have not become a vote bank till now, the key consideration for government action. Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary General, remarked that “ Senior citizens, in spite of their number, collective wisdom and experience, will continue to be ignored and marginalized unless they unite”. From 2010, a joint action committee of Organisations of Senior Citizens started observing August 16 as National Solidarity Day to “stir up the conscience of our rulers and the society”.
Senior Citizens are the soft targets of criminal elements. The Maintenance of Parents and Senior Citizens Act of 2007 is an important elder care legislation. But its effectiveness is viewed with scepticism as criminalisation of family relations and obligations may not be acceptable to the vast majority of the old parents. It is a fact that some cases are registered and orders issued by the tribunals. But parents will be reluctant to take their children to police stations and courts unless they are driven to a desperate situation. Sensitization of families needs to go along with legal remedies.
The National Policy on Older Persons has been ineffective without a separate secretariat for the welfare of the elderly. There is urgent need for national and state commissions to protect the rights, security and welfare of the senior citizens on the lines of the commissions for women and children. Elder care services should be headed by Directors at the Central and State levels.
A representative sample survey in Chennai city by the author more than ten years ago yielded unexpected results. 73% of the elderly respondents reported that “these days the old parents are ill-treated and neglected by the children.” They mentioned the different ways the aged experienced ill-treatment: shouting at them, making them wait for food, delaying or even avoiding medical treatment, leaving them in soiled clothes during sickness, not taking them to marriage or other social functions, not allowing them to visit neighbours to prevent “gossiping”, not consulting them on family matters, not introducing them to guests, and pushing or even beating them.
In a survey of 501 old persons in urban poor settlements in Chennai in 2006 by the author, 71% men and 76% women said they experienced ill-treatment in their families. They often suffered in silence for fear of reprisal in the family or shame in the community.
In the southern districts of Tamilnadu a cruel social practice of “thalaikoothal” is prevalent. That is, bedridden aged persons are given oil bath and served with tender coconut water on the hope that they would contract serious illness and die. The motive is often property-related , Burden of care giving is also a reason. Tamilnadu is not an exception. During Kumbhamela, held once in twelve years, millions of Hindus take a holy dip at theTriveni Sangamam. Many families not onlywasg their sins off, but their unwanted old parents by abandoning them.
In 2025 the population of India is estimated to be around 1200 million and the elderly segment will constitute about 160 million. A significant feature of the Indian demographic scenario is the “aging of the aged” which is manifested in the growing number of people aged 80 and above, who will be nearly 12 million in 2025. But the response of the central and state governments is quite inadequate and unimaginative. A national policy on older persons (NPOP) was drafted to be revised in 2011 because of poor implementation. The policy performance is not accountable to the Parliament, it is left to the mercy of the bureaucracy.
Old age pension for older persons in the BPL category who form the majority of the aged in the country is the only significant elder care service. Tamilnadu, Delhi and Goa are giving a monthly pension of Rs.1000 each, while in the other states the amount is more meagre. But the social assistance delivery system is cumbersome, arbitrary and insensitive. Delay in sanction, abrupt stoppage, denial of PDS service, and corruption are common experiences. Tamilnadu has recently introduced of distribution of social security amounts through individual bank accounts using smart cards with bio-metric identification of the beneficiaries. This initiative should be replicated in all states.
Political establishments in India are seldom proactive in responding to social needs. They are reactive depending, depending on the gravity of the agitations. Though the 60 plus persons are around 13 percent of the voters in elections, they have not become a vote bank till now, the key consideration for government action. Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary General, remarked that “ Senior citizens, in spite of their number, collective wisdom and experience, will continue to be ignored and marginalized unless they unite”. From 2010, a joint action committee of Organisations of Senior Citizens started observing August 16 as National Solidarity Day to “stir up the conscience of our rulers and the society”.
Senior Citizens are the soft targets of criminal elements. The Maintenance of Parents and Senior Citizens Act of 2007 is an important elder care legislation. But its effectiveness is viewed with scepticism as criminalisation of family relations and obligations may not be acceptable to the vast majority of the old parents. It is a fact that some cases are registered and orders issued by the tribunals. But parents will be reluctant to take their children to police stations and courts unless they are driven to a desperate situation. Sensitization of families needs to go along with legal remedies.
The National Policy on Older Persons has been ineffective without a separate secretariat for the welfare of the elderly. There is urgent need for national and state commissions to protect the rights, security and welfare of the senior citizens on the lines of the commissions for women and children. Elder care services should be headed by Directors at the Central and State levels.
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