Senior
citizens and the present generation
..By
D.Gopalakrishnan 29-9-2015 Mail: dgopu@yahoo.co.in
Senior citizens and the present
generation
Limited Resources is not a barrier
Ageing is a general and natural
phenomenon. On account of increase in life expectancy and decrease in
birth rates ageing population is increasing throughout the world. According
to Global Age Watch Index 2013, there are 80.9 crore people above the age of 60
in the world and it may soar to 200 crore by 2050. Italy, Greece,
Sweden, Spain & Japan has more old people in that order. Global Age
Watch Index 2013 released the rankings, based on data from WHO. According
to that, Sweden is the best place to grow old followed by Norway & Germany.
Tanzania, Pakistan and Afganistan are in the bottom three. China is
in 35th rank and India is in 73rd rank. Surprisingly lower-income countries like Sri Lanka
& Bolivia had put in place policies that significantly improved the quality
of life for their elderly. The report states “Limited resources
need not be a barrier to countries providing for their older citizens”.
Repercussion
on a Nation
Old age imposes several limitations
on the elderly, biologically, socially and economically. Often elderly
people are taken as a liability, incapable of contributing anything to the
society. They become socially marginalized or disadvantaged. Young people
consider old age as a handicap or an incurable disease. Such myths often
make ageing and the aged a subject of pity. If a huge section of
population of elderly is considered marginalized and spent-force, it would have
serious repercussions for the growth and development of a Nation.
Necessity
and not a luxury
Senior citizens make an important
contribution to the fabric of our society.
The first significant attempt at the international front was in the form
of the World Assembly on Ageing in 1982 at Vienna by the UN as a forum
to launch an International Action Programme for the aged. It sponsored
the idea of “active ageing” as an important strategy for the adjustment of the
aged in the society. The Assembly said ‘the need is to make the old
age meaningful, contended and happy’. The point of attraction among
the geriatric professionals and gerontologists are “rights of the elderly,
eliminating exploitation in the form of abuse, stereotypes and ageism remarks,
independence, dignity, care fulfillment & active ageing”. The World
Health Organisation (WHO) in 1999 stated that countries can afford to get
old if governments, international organizations and civil society don’t adopt
“active ageing” policies and programmes that enhance the health, participation
and security of older citizens. The word ‘Active’ refers to continuing
participation in social, economic, cultural, spiritual and civic affairs, not
just the ability to be physically active or to participate in the labour force.
Health refers to physical, mental and social well being as expressed in
WHO definition of health. The second World Assembly on Ageing, in 2002
at Madrid stated that ‘A society for all ages encompasses the goal of
providing older persons with the opportunity to continue contributing to
society’. Measures to help older people remain active and healthy are
a necessity and not a luxury.
Neglected/frustrated
The aged maintain their status and
interpersonal relationship, if (i) their spouse is alive, (ii) they are physically
fit, (iii) they have valuable material and property under their control, (iv)
they adjust to changing family environment. There exists some tension, in
many families, where daughter-in-law and son are not able to give enough time
to their elderly due to their job commitments. The aged females, in turn,
feel neglected, unwanted and frustrated. Urban characteristics like
impersonality, fast pace of the challenge the adjustment of the aged in family,
community and society.
International
commitment
UN Secretary General in 2007 said
that ‘older-persons now have many more opportunities to keep contributing to
society beyond any set retirement age. Older persons were sometimes seen
as a burden on society, they are now increasingly recognized as an asset that
can and should be tapped’. On the eve of International Day of Older
Persons on 1st October 2009 he said that “over the past
decade, we intensified our efforts to build a society for all ages and to
promote international commitment to the UN principles for older persons which
is founded on the need to build an inclusive society that emphasizes
participation, self-fulfillment, independence, care and dignity for all”.
Indian
situation
In India 5.5% of population was above
60 years of age in 1951 which rose to 8.2% in 2011. Art. 41 of our
constitution talks about ‘well-being of senior citizens’. National policy
on older persons (NPOP) was evolved in 1999. Maintenance and Welfare of
Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 was enacted in December 2007.
Old-age dependency ratio was 10.9% in 1961 and it rose to 13.1% in 2001.
As per Census 2011, Nuclear families in India is 70.1% and in Tamilnadu
(74.4%) it is above national average. As per the report by UN population
Fund & Helpage India, in our country there were 9 crore people above the
age of 60 in 2011 and it is likely to go upto 17.3 crore by 2026. Out of
this 9 crore, 3 crore people are living alone and 90% work for their
livelihood. Nearly 85% do not have any retirement benefits. Our Govt.
spends only 0.032% of GDP for senior citizens. Neglect, Poverty and
Isolation are the major issues.
Old-age
a commodity
Helpage India conducted a sample
study of 1,200 elders from six Tier I cities and six Tier II cities in 2014.
The study revealed that over half the elderly interviewed reported to
experiencing abuse within the family. Among the Tier I cities, Bangalore
tops the list with 75% and among the Tier II cities Nagpur is in the top with
85%. The study also brought out three kinds of abuse (i) Verbal-41%, (ii)
Disrespect – 33% and (iii) Neglect – 26%. Analyzing the roots of their
abuse to emotional dependence, economic dependence and the changing ethos of
values. The report shows that the vulnerability of old age is created out
of the political economy of dependency. They point out quietly that old
age has become a commodity. The younger generation commodifies old age by
seeing the old as sources of pension, property, income. The old are like
the goose that must lay the golden eggs and move on. Old age is now an
iron cage from which there is no exit. Old age, once a sign of
status, a rite of passage to dignity, is now redundant. With
Modernization, Consumerism, Individualism, the values of old age are no longer
part of our society, atleast as reflected in the survey sample.
Importance
gone down – Why?
Certain social systems and processes
like agricultural economy, joint family system, strong community ties,
religious teachings, in the past ensured safety and well-being of the elderly.
Story-telling by grandmothers to grandchildren was an important
instrument of inculcating manners and values among them (television and
computers have replaced grandmothers). In view of social, economic and
technological changes, their contributions in the family have gone down, so is
the case with their importance and roles in the family.
Governments spending on health
For Senior Citizens Health is most
important than any other problem. As age advances many deseases come.
We are giving some statistics (based on World Health Organisation) of
some countries, how much the Government spends on health, how many doctors
& nurses are available.
Country Govt. Doctors Nurses
Spending per and
On health 10,000 Midwives
As %age population per
Of all 10,000
Spending population
Bolivia 7.3% 12.2 21.3
Brazil 7.1 17.64 64.19
China 12.1 14.15 13.8
Germany 18.7 36.01 110.98
India 3.6 6.49 Not
Available
Malaysia 9.2 9.41 27.3
Nepal 7.9 2.1 4.6
Norway 17.4 41.59 319.32
Pakistan 3.6 8.13 5.6
Russia 8.0 43.089 85.2
South
Africa 11.9 7.7 40.8
Sweden 14.8 37.7 118.61
Out of the above 12 countries India
& Pakistan are only spending 3.6% whereas all other countries are spending
more on health. We have to pressurize the Government to spend more on
health. These figures pertains to 2010.
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