Ashok Kumar Arora
The international net work and W.H.O. at the United Nations under resolution 66/127 launched this day on 15th. Of June 2006. The day is celebrated every year throughout the world to bring together the Senior Citizens ,their children, their caregivers, close relations and the Government to combat the problem, supported by the United Nations and the world Health organizations… The international network for the prevention of elders abuse (INPEA) was founded in 1997. It is a global body dedicated to the cause of disseminating information on the prevention of Elders Abuse. INPEA defines Elders Abuse as neglect, violation of Human legal and Medical Rights and deprivation of the Elderly. It serves as a call to action for individuals, organizations and communities to raise awareness about Elders Abuse.
Virtually all the countries are expected to see substantial growth in the number of elderly persons between the year 2015 to 2030 and this growth shall be faster in the developed countries. Topic on elders abuse has started gaining visibility across the world but least attention is being paid in National action plans.
5 to 10 percent of older people globally experience some kind of abuse. However it is unfortunate that this mostly goes unreported partly due to shame and embarrassment on the part of the victim. Financial abuse is quite different in the developed countries than that in the under developed countries. Poverty ,Widowhood and lack of support networks as well as Weak police and criminal justice systems are the main reasons.
There are many types of elders abuse and a few are quoted below:-
i) Physical abuse like slapping , bruising, restraining,
ii) Sexual abuse ie. Non consensual sexual act
iii) Neglect_ Not to provide shelter, food health care etc.
iv) Exploitation _ concealment of funds, properties or assets of a senior elder
v) Emotional abuse_ inflicting mental pain, anguish or distress through verbal acts, humiliating etc.
vi) Abondonment_ desertion of an elderly person by a care giver.
And lastly the self neglect which is characterized as a failure of a person to perform self care which is most unfortunate and not attributed to any caregiver..
Social development studies carried out in our country reveal alarming figures. Nearly 2/3rd of elderly people in our country are neglected by their families while as 1/3rd remaining face physical and verbal abuse. The studies further reveal that elders in urban areas face more brunt than those in the rural areas. In our country still family ties are strong and elders enjoy respect and live in dignity in rural areas. They live together and nuclear families are the ones left for the urban areas only.
With extended life span and more expenses on medicines and hospitalization the younger ones abstain from taking care of the elders . The sufferers of elders abuse are both men and women but over all the women are the more sufferers. Women generally live longer than the men as it is customary to marry men of higher age. Once widowed they are the main target of elders abuse. Elders are mostly fragile, with poor reflexes and vulnerable in all respects are dependent on the youngsters and thus are subject to elders abuse at some time or the other.
There are no specific laws to protect the elders from the elders abuse However Govt. Of India has enacted an Act ” Maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens Act 2007″ which protects the elders from elders abuse. Unfortunately the Act has not been extended to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Neither extending the Act nor having their own Act is nothing but State Elders abuse. . A detailed study further reveals that the cases reported are just a tip of the iceberg and mostly the cases go unreported. A recent study has further revealed that only one out of six report this abuse for redressal.
There are nearly 8.75 crore elderly people in our country. Most of them do not have access to basic pension. They are poor people like labourers, rickshaw pullers, daily wagers, teastall owners and so on and who are the main sufferers of elderly abuse. Under social security a few are being paid old age pension. The State Govt. has recently enhanced the old age pension to Rs. 1000 P.M. However how many souls are covered under the scheme is a million dollar question.. This is nothing but an elderly abuse.
Providing some basic facilities like financial safety ,health care, personal safety etc. is the social responsibility of the State. Even the state pensioners are not covered under any health insurance. . Even the Govt. Hospitals refuse to admit a patient without an attendant. These are also the cases of elderly abuse.
As mentioned earlier there are no laws to prevent elders abuse.. Fast track systems need to be provided to enable older persons to seek early justice. There is need to bring awareness in the younger generation through print and electronic media. Acts, plays and dramas can really leave a print on the minds of youngsters. Elders abuse is not a new phenomena. It is as old as the civilization..
Problems are many but there are solutions also. Till such time the” State Act for the Maintenance of Parents and senior Citizens “is enacted the seniors are deprived of the provisions in the Act which can prevent Elders Abuse. However many other steps can be taken by the State to minimize the elders abuse.
Even the SUPREME COURT OF INDIA agreed to dwell on the issue of evolving of acceptable solutions and schemes for the welfare of senior citizens and most importantly establishment of old age homes at each District of the State. Former Law Minister said before the Hon’ble Judges that a very large number of oldies, the figure which is increasing day by day, are living without roof, proper clothes and food, not to talk of medical facilities and the budgetary provisions are very paltry.
Providing an old age home at all the districts can be seen as an alternative to elders abuse. To do so it may not be possible for the State due to many constraints, the Civil Society has to come forward. WE believe that if this is done a large number of oldies can get relief from Elders Abuse.
With the affluence increasing, many senior citizens are opting for or aspire to live in retirement homes. The finances of retirees and many others are better compared with earlier generations. Also the stigma earlier associated with such living is reducing. Thus Pay and Stay Homes is the other alternative. Most of the senior citizens want to spend their silver years with less physical and mental stress, with chores such as cooking, housekeeping, health care taken care of.
(The author is President, Association For welfare of senior citizens, (Regd).
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