Dear Editor,
In Indian culture, the elderly have been considered a treasure of experiences, but it is worrying that the elderly are now forced to face many problems including neglect and abuse from family members and society. In the Indian society, importance has always been given to the joint family, where the elders have been given the paramount place, but now due to the increasing trend of nuclear families, the neglect of the elders is increasing. In fact, in their desire to show their status in the society, some people face a big hurdle in the path of elders of their own family. Starts appearing. Such people find it against their social dignity to include elders in their happiness. Due to such conservative thinking, the feeling of affection towards the elderly is decreasing among the upper class as well as the middle class. According to a survey, about sixty percent of the elderly in India feel that they are mistreated in the society. Fifty-five percent admitted disrespect, thirty-seven percent admitted verbal abuse, thirty-three percent admitted neglect, twenty-four percent admitted financial abuse and thirteen percent admitted physical abuse in the country. Due to the gradual breakdown of the joint family system, the ‘Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007’ came into existence. To make this Act more contemporary and more effective, the Amendment Bill, 2019 was introduced in the Lok Sabha, in which there is a provision for disposal of maintenance application within ninety days, whereas earlier ninety days were fixed after the notice. There was no provision in the old law for misbehaving with the elderly, whereas in the new bill, there would be a jail term of three to six months or ten thousand rupees.There may be a fine or both. According to a report by a non-governmental organization, 47 percent of people in India are financially dependent on their families, 34 percent are dependent on pensions and cash transfers, while 40 percent of the people surveyed expressed their desire to work as much as possible. The survey also revealed that 71 percent senior citizens were not working, while 36 percent were ready to work. Not only this, more than 30 percent of the elderly were ready to volunteer their time for various social works, which clearly shows that If the energy of the older generation gets adequate opportunities, the economic and social picture of India can become bright. According to the report of a non-governmental organization, by 2022 the population of senior citizens in the world was 110 crore and about 14 percent of the total population. By 2050, this population is likely to increase to 210 crore and about 22 percent of the total population. The elderly population in Asia will reach 130 crore by 2050. The population of senior citizens in India is currently around 14.9 crore and according to a report it will increase to 17 crore by 2026, 23 crore by 2036 and 35 crore by 2050.Crore i.e. it is estimated to be more than 20 percent of the total population. According to the estimates of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, by 2036, every fifth person in the states of South India will be in the category of senior citizen. This increase in the elderly population will definitely impact society and the economy. In such a situation, it is the responsibility of the government to set appropriate priorities for proper care of the present and future generations. Help Age India’s latest report ‘Women and Aging: Are the Invisibles Empowered?’ May to June 2023, 7911 women in the age group of 60-90 years were included in this survey. The organization conducted the survey among participants from both rural and urban areas in twenty states, two union territories and five metros covering various socio-economic categories and the report revealed that sixteen per cent of older women faced abuse, Out of which about fifty percent women had to face physical violence and forty-six percent elderly women had to face insult. Forty percent of participants suffered emotional or psychological abuse. A total of forty percent of the women surveyed blamed their sons, while thirty-one percent blamed their relatives and thirty-seven percent blamed their daughters-in-law. The report also revealed that despite the abuse, most of the elderly women did not report it to the police due to fear. We consider our next generation as a treasure for a better future and leave no stone unturned in their better upbringing. But while fulfilling all the responsibilities, when age started advancing and When a child starts becoming physically and financially weak, many times he becomes a victim of neglect by the family and society. Although it is said with great pride that seventy percent of India’s population consists of youth, which is a big asset for the country, but the matter of concern here is whether this population will always remain young? Aging is a destiny of life, which everyone has to go through. According to various research, at the age of sixty years and above, many types of diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, lung disease, heart disease etc. The danger increases. Increasing age and decreasing immunity is a major factor in diseases. A report titled ‘Health Problems of the Elderly’ of the Union Health Ministry states that 25 percent of Indian elders are living with depression, 33 percent suffer from arthritis or bone disease, 40 percent have anemia, 10 percent in villages and 10 percent in cities. 40 percent have diabetes, 10 percent are suffering from hearing loss. 33 percent in villages and 50 percent in cities have hypertension, about 50 percent have weak eyesight, 10 percent Bharti If these elderly people fall somewhere and break some bone, then 33 percent are suffering from digestive system disorders.
Due to generation gap and change in lifestyle, elderly people themselves are feeling isolated and insecure. Economic imperialism, globalization, liberalization and increasing industrialization have also worked to marginalize the elderly. Due to the disintegrating joint families, the elders of the house have been forced to live a lonely life. The house where elders are respected is considered more beautiful than heaven. Its Despite this, in many families the elders have to constantly suffer from the neglect of their own family members. It is very important to make such family members aware that today’s youth will also grow old in the future. Whatever we are today in life, our It is only because of the elders in the house, with whose vast experiences and teachings, we are able to overcome all kinds of difficulties in life. In such a situation, if the elders are given affection and proper respect, their likes and dislikes are taken care of, then they will become very important principles for the house. In the twilight of age, one should try to be a support to not only the family members but also the society instead of neglecting them.
Vijay Garg
