Abuse of the Elderly: Rampant in India
Abuse of the Elderly: Rampant in India
Many cultures in the past have ill-treated their elders. Senicide or the killing of the elderly has been practiced in many nations and states at one point in time. Take the case of Tamil Nadu's Thalaikoothal. This is the practice of killing elderly people which was once followed in the southern districts of this state. While it has now been outlawed, there have been cases where seniors have had to escape from relatives and family members who have been plotting to kill them.
The Heruli were a Germanic tribe which according to scholar Procopius in his writing The Wars used to kill their elderly people as well. Festus's work outlines how institutionalised senicide was justified in Rome. The last known case of senicide among the Inuits was in the year 1939. Ubasute is a custom which was once followed in certain parts of Japan in the past where infirm elderly persons were abandoned and left to die.
Recent research shows that elderly persons continue to suffer abuse meted out to them by youngsters in India. The study was conducted by Agewell Foundation for the fifth session of the Open Ended Working Group on Ageing to be held in UN headquarters between July 31 and August 1.
Of the 28295 elderly persons surveyed in Delhi and NCR, It was found that many elderly persons who were financially and physically dependent on their children and families face physical abuse, ill-treatment and misbehaviour.
According to the 2011 Census, the population of people aged 60 years and above in India stood at 98.3 million. The survey found that every fifth senior person which is around 20.8% of those surveyed indicated that restrictions on their social life were placed by family members or others. Many of the respondents indicated that such restrictions were the most common form of abuse they faced.
26.5% of the elderly persons said they were dependent on family members for money while 14.1% said they were dependent on others. Only 29.2% of elderly persons surveyed had control over their finances. Though many of the elderly people surveyed were owners of their property, around 57.6% said they faced harassment or ill-treatment.
54.6% of the elderly persons surveyed indicated their daughters-in-law or son or both harassed them. Elderly women were found to be facing higher instances of abuse.
Around nearly half of the financially self-dependent elderly also indicated they had no control over their income. More than half of the respondents also indicated they did not find the social environment status of their family or society to be respectful. 34.3% had no access to safe or sustainable transport while 81.03% found road transport facilities were not elderly friendly. Every fourth respondent indicated that he or she is not getting proper food.
Illiteracy and lack of awareness is said to be the reason why older generations of Indians are not able to gain access to protection of their human rights. India's population has tripled during the past 50 years while the number of elderly has risen by more than four-fold. More empowerment is needed so that elderly persons become aware of their right to live with dignity and respect. Elderly people have the right to financial and social independence. They must be protected from those who mete out abuse and ill-treatment to them.
