Social security is inherent in India's joint family system, says Vice-President

Hyderabad: Traditionally India enjoyed a robust joint family system but the fast changing socio-economic conditions are leading to its disintegration, said Vice-President Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu at 18th National Conference of Senior Citizens organised by the All India Senior Citizens Confederation (AISCCON) in Hyderabad on Thursday.

He said that there was an “inherent social security in our joint family system as it took great care of the elderly.”

The Vice-President said that with the emergence of nuclear families, the elderly were increasingly getting neglected and their dignity was also adversely affected. Whenever the family system fails in its duty to protect the elderly, the community, the civil society and the government have to step in to fill the vacuum, he added.

He also expressed concern over the instances of children abandoning their parents saying that the neglect and abuse of the elderly was abhorrent and completely unacceptable.

Mr Naidu said that in spite of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior citizens Act 2007, the number of cases of children abandoning their elderly parents was on the rise. Apart from abandonment, the elderly also face neglect, abuse, physical, verbal and emotional and other forms of violence, he added.

The Vice President said that currently, there was an estimated 10.5 crore elderly in India and by 2050 the figure would reach 32.4 crore. Worldwide, by 2050 every fifth person will be an elder person and there will be 64 countries including India where 30 per cent of the population will be 60 plus, he added.