SENIOR CITIZEN

LIFE OF SENIOR CITIZEN IN TODAY'S WORLD

Our life is different when we depend on others . There are two stages in a human life when he/she depends on others for their living. First stage is childhood in which one is totally dependent on his/her parents and parents actually enjoy their children’s childhood. As time passes the second dependent stage comes but now the parents are dependent on their children . Unlike their children, parents are not fully dependent on their children, still their children find it difficult to take care of them.  According to the Population Census 2011 there are nearly 104 million elderly persons ( aged 60 years or above) in India . A report released by the United Nations Population Fund and HelpAge India suggests that the no. Of elderly persons are expected to grow 173 million by 2026. 

There are 728 Old Age Homes in India. Detailed information of 547 homes is available . Out of these , 325 homes are free of cost while 95 old age homes are on pay basis , 116 homes have both free as well as pay and stay facilities and 11 homes have no information . A total of 278 old age homes all over the country are available for sick and 101 homes are exclusively for women. Kerala has 124 old age homes which is maximum in any state. 

The old age homes are increasing rapidly. It shows the value of our elders in today’s world. In most of the cases, aged people go to old age homes when their family doesn’t treat them properly. They want only one thing that is respect. It is seen that their children and grandchildren give a cold shoulder to them. They don’t treat them like elders. They avoid them. It hurts elders so much and it is obvious. The person for whom they struggled in their whole life, for their one smile they sacrifice their happiness is not available for them in their hardest phase of life, kills them from inside. In some cases the old aged person go willingly as they feel unwanted in the family and they don’t want to lose their self respect. 

There are some families who respect their elders. Elders of the family take every decision. Elders are the head of the family  and it shows some people have a soft corner for old people. But it is rare. There are so many cases in which old aged people are badly exploited by their families and still they decide to live with their spoiled children with the hope that a day will come when he/she apologizes and understands their value. Well it's better to live in an old age home with strangers than in a home full of known persons who humiliated them everytime by disrespecting them. All I know is that there is a solution to every problem. I appeal to the people to be sensitive towards our parents and grandparents. We must keep in mind that what we are today is all because of them. We must value their emotions. They don’t want any money from you . They want love and respect from you. 

Elders are precious. You are so lucky if you have one . I know sometimes they are so moody. They try to dominate you. They get annoyed easily. They scream over little things which actually doesn’t matter. At that time one should remember that the behaviour just transferred from them to their parents. The Constitution of India provides some rights to senior citizens, if they face any financial or physical problems due to illiteracy they are not aware of their rights and become the victim of being old . There are the rights : 

    • An adequate standard of living, including adequate food , shelter and clothing. 

• Adequate social security, assistance and protection and highest possible standard of health. 

• Freedom from discrimination based on age or any other status ,in all aspects of life including employment and access to housing ,health care and social services. 

• Protection from neglect and all types of physical or mental . 

Well – being of older persons has been mandated in the constitution of India. Article 41, a Directive Principle of state policy, has directed that the state shall, within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective provision for securing the right of public assistance in cases of old age. There are other provisions too, which the director states to improve the quality of life of its citizens. Right to equality has been guaranteed by the constitution as a fundamental right. These provisions apply equally to older persons.Social security has been made the concurrent responsibility of central and state government. Government should organize some programs to acknowledge senior citizens about their rights and laws available for them in case they are facing any kind of exploitation by anyone in society or family. 

We must try that even by mistake we don’t disrespect any elder. Try to spend some time with your parents or grandparents. I can assure you that you will learn something new everytime and their one smile has the power of destroying all your problems and tiredness. 

Sources:

https://www.thebetterindia.com/124234/legal-protections-state-assistance-senior-citizens-india/