A. K ARORA
World Elders Day is celebrated every year on 1st. of October by all the members of the United Nations .There are at present nearly 11.3 crores elders in India out of which 5.7 crores are males and balance females. This figure is likely to jump to 19.8 crores in the year 2030 and to 32.6 crores in the year 2050. This figure is nearly three times the population of elders today. A demographic resolution is under way throughout the world and not confined to our country only.
It was on 14th. of Dec.1990 that United Nations General Assembly voted to celebrate the Elders Day on 1st of October every year as recorded in resolution 45/106(1)
Elders Day probably is one of the least glorified of all the days. It is nothing but our apathy. We forget that time is coming when the present youth shall become elders. We should also remember that if they were not here we would not be here. Only time shall prove that we become like them.
Grand parents day is celebrated in United States and Canada, Respect Day for the aged in Japan Double ninth festival in China and similarly in other countries of the world including India. Even Elders Abuse Day is celebrated on 15th of Jine every year to highlight the various elderly abuses which the elders have to face in real life.
The Elders Day is celebrated to raise awareness about issues of the elders as also to appreciate their contribution to the society. This being the International issue the day is observed to promote and moblise for action. The day is also celebrated to enroll their significant involvement in the society, to get promoted from their knowhow and how best this can be utilised for the benefit of the society.
Elders Day is also celebrated to introspect as to what we have done or we are doing for them Japan claims to take full care of their elders and that is how they have the maximum number of Centurions. Let us remember the contributions of our elders in their hay days the fruits of which we are enjoying.
Many world days like World Earth Day,World Cancer Day, World Tuberclosis Day, World Valentine Day, and so many other world days are celebrated and each day has an important message for the
society.
India is a country where the life expectancy is increasing fast. The life span which was only 30 years at the time of Independence has now been projected as 67 years. Children born now are expected to live to a ripe age of 100 years. Thus it is very important to spread awareness amongst the youth to take care of their elders. The Govt. is equally bound, under the constitution of India to safe guard the interests of the Elders.
With the fast changing socio-economic scenario the Elders have been left alone. Main reason being the nuclear families, especially in urban areas, green pastures outside the country or outside our state. Extended life period and consequently more medical expenses for the Elders, time constraint for the youngsters, especially where both husband and wife are working, long travelling time, have rendered the Elders on their own without any care both physically and financially.
Day Care Centers is the answer at least to the problem of Elders at home during the day. Many such day care centers are running at various places where recreation facilities are available and in few cases counseling on health are also available. These centers are being run mostly by NGOs and financed by the Central Govt. but sorry no such centre is functioning in our State. In our opinion such of the NGOs should be encouraged to establish such day care centers with a liberal grant-in aid by the Govt. and all districts of the state should be covered. The State Social Welfare Department has sufficient funds to provide such grant-in aid.
There now is the problem of such of the elders who are poor and have no one to look after them in their old age. Old Age Homes is the solution to this problem. We have such a good home in Jammu at Ambphalla.This is being run by an NGO of course with a little grant -in -aid from the State Govt. There exists a few more such homes at various places. As a matter of facxt there should be at least one such home at each district head quarter. The one at Jammu is also lacking more accommodation to, admit more Elders. Admittedly the poor rural elders are the sufferers. The family bonds are still stronger in the rural areas but with the fast changing scenario the elders have to suffer and with no respite and there is no alternative left but to suffer in silence and die.
Establishment of old age homes is the responsibility of the Govt. at each district level. Even big business houses can come forward to establish such homes out of their social corporate responsibility. We in Jammu are fortunate to have Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and a designated Board to look after its affairs and with sufficient financial resources. The shrine board can definitely come forward to establish such homes. The shrine board has recently established a Super Speciality Hospital at Kakrayakl, Katra. One Old Age Home should be the next project.
In urban areas the problem is little different. Elders will prefer to stay lonely and suffer rather than joining an old age home. Their children will never like them to get admission in an old age home nor do they get time to attend on them in case of an ailment. Most of the elders in the urban areas are capable of spending for their comforts in their fag end of life. Their children shall also love to have such an arrangement to see their elders live in comfort especially the ones who are residing out side the State or the country. Pay and Stay Homes is the solution for such elders.
Pay and Stay Homes are available at many places in the country. These Homes are designed to take care of all the problems of the elders including health care good and hygienic food, recreational facilities, joint messing, indoor and outdoor games, local dispensary, lifts where more stories of the building are there, security and many more for the comforts of the elders. We have one with the name Aashraye at canal road, run by Bee EEn General Hospital. More such homes are required to be established in the city. Being more or less a commercial proposition these Homes are to be established by the civil society, Bank loans are available. The stigma earlier associated with staying in a pay and stay home is gradually reducing and thus a dire need to establish such a home.
(To be continued)