Ignoring the aged

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala society has become insensitive to the aged population which is evident from the many incidents of cruelty being meted out to one’s aged parents and other elderly by the  young. An 81-year-old retired pensioner woman  here,  who has  an only son settled in the UK,  was shifted from three different private hospitals and finally dumped in  her home  after she suffered a stroke last month. The in-laws of the NRI son were hoping that she would die of shock, but she survived it and suffered more from their cruelty.

Though there are more than a dozen old age homes and day care centres functioning under the social justice department across the state in government sector for abandoned senior citizens, the majority of them don't wish to go there for fear of disgracing themselves. Recently,  a retired college principal here too had a harrowing time at the hands of her ‘mighty’ sons while  her daughters were all based abroad. Neighbours notified the local police that she was locked up in her own home with the sons residing in another part of the city.  When she passed away after years of suffering, the sons renovated her house  and gave it for rent.

G. Vijayaraghavan, technocrat and social commentator, told DC that there are scores of large homes in Central Travancore  with an elderly couple or an individual living alone.  They could come to one of the homes and stay together to beat the solitude, he said. “But the Malayalis’ ego would not allow sharing their homes or living in another person’s home. In  places like Coimbatore and Pune, there are one bedroom studio flats which have become the pensioners’ paradise. We require a creative model and like a reverse mortgage, the son or the daughter can buy back the studio apartment later,” said Vijayaraghavan.

According to State Planning Board’s economic review of 2015, Kerala has the largest proportion of senior citizens (people aged 60 years and above) compared to other states. Currently,  they form  12.6 percent (11.3 percent among males and 13.3 percent among females) compared to the national average of about eight percent. According to the projections of the National Commission on Population, the proportion of elderly population in the state is likely to increase to 18.3 percent by the end of 2026. Addressing the challenges associated with these demographic shifts has now become  a major challenge to the state and society alike.

“The state alone can’t do anything against elderly abuse as society too has to intervene. Support systems like Ayalkoottam or  maintenance systems like social safety net and regulatory mechanism have to be brought in,” said V. N. Jithendran, former director, social justice department.  As per 2014 statistics, there were 15 government old age homes with 602 inmates against the sanctioned strength of 1,000.

Also there were 17,315 inmates in 558 registered old age homes run by NGOs under the board of control of orphanages and other charitable homes. In addition, a number of private old age homes (free and pay-and-stay) are functioning in the state. According to the 2014-15 annual report of the union Ministry of Women and Child Development, Kerala has the highest old age dependency ratio (196 percent out of the total 3.34 crore population), while Dadra and Nagar Haveli has the lowest (63 percent in population).

Geriatric specialist and leading diabetologist Dr. Jothydev laments that the majority of Malayalis live for their children leaving nothing for their retirement life.
“We lack in vision. The average life span of Malayalis has changed from 38 years six decades ago to 76 years. There is no mental preparation or calculation as to how to live healthy.  After  giving their savings to children, they tend to wait for the ‘death’ to come,” said Dr. Jothydev. He feels that the aged population needs a vision that they will  live till 90 years.

Aged unaware of law that protects them

Despite the central government enforcing the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, which provides more effective provision for maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens, not many aged people are aware of such a legislation. This Act makes it a legal obligation for children and heirs to provide maintenance to senior citizens and parents by monthly allowance. Dr. P. K. B. Nayar, chairman, Centre for Gerentological Studies, Thiruvananthapuram,  says that only 8600 applications have been received till  last year as per the legislation.

He feels that most of the elderly are not keen  to wage a legal battle with their children at the fag end of their lives  as they prefer to live in peace. He says there are 48 lakh elderly people  in the state out of 3.34 crore population. “Unfortunately, the  majority of the elderly are not aware of this legislation.  Forty five percent of the elderly face abuse after they reach 60 years of age. We  hear about the  abuse or being neglected by their children only from cities through the media. The care givers don’t have a human touch which is what matters most,”  said Dr. Nayar.

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai) and Mitraniketan have been jointly conducting a one-year diploma course in geriatric care at Mitraniketan, Thiruvananthapuram.    There are not many takers for it though  experts have demanded a subject on geriatric care in medical studies.  But the Indian Medical Council has not accepted  it.