World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 15 th June, 2012 in Maharashtra

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 15 th June, 2012 in Maharashtra

Maharashtra is the second most populous State of India  after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India. Maharashtra is the richest state in India, contributing 15% of the country's industrial output and 13.3% of its GDP (2006–2007 figures). Maharashtra is the world's second most populous first-level administrative country sub-division. As per the 2001 census, Maharashtra had a population of 9,67,52,247 inhabitants making it the second most populous state in India, Senior Citizens being 84.64 lakhs. Now, the total population is more than 12 crores and Senior Citizens more than 1.2 crores. In 2012, Maharashtra reported a revenue surplus of  152.49 crore,  with a total revenue of 136,711.70 crore and a spending of 1,36,559.21 crore. Maharashtra is the second most urbanised state with urban population of 42% of whole population. Maharashtra is India's leading industrial state contributing 15% of national industrial output and over 40% of India's national revenue. Inspite of such prosperity, 1.2 cror Senior Citizens of  the State, who are not looked after well by the State, Municipal & Panchayati Raj Institutes, Society & Media.

The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, (WEAAD), was first instituted by The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) on June 15, 2006 to create awareness and sensitize the Government and the Civil Society to eliminate/prevent elder abuse at both micro and macro level. Elder abuse, perhaps the last taboo, is widely unrecognized and grossly under reported around the Globe, according to the studies undertaken by many INPEA members from numerous countries but no cognizance is given to this Day in by the State. UNO has now recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day as International Day on December 19, 2011. United Nations General Assembly has officially recognized Elder Abuse as an a global social issue which affects the Health and Human Rights of millions of older persons around the world, and an issue which deserves the attention of the international community.

Established in 1997, INPEA has lead the way in raising awareness and urging NGOs, grassroots organizations and governments to action. Today, INPEA, together with the Global Coalition on the Rights of Older Persons is working towards a new U.N. Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. It has defined Elder Abuse as a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship, where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person. It can be of various forms-physical, psychological, emotional, sexual, and financial or simply reflect intentional or unintentional neglect. Elder Abuse is a violation of Human Rights and a significant cause of injury, illness, loss of productivity, isolation & despair. Confronting & reducing Elder Abuse requires a multispectral & multidisciplinary approach. Governments and Most Powerful Fourth Estate viz Media are two main sources on which depend the well being of Elders and strengthening of their legitimate place in Society & helping them to live their last phase of life with Purpose, Dignity & Peace.

In India, Government had laid down comprehensive and Well-thought out National Policy of Older Persons, 1999, (NPOP,99) covering all aspects of life of Elders with clear directives to implement it by preparing Annual & Five Year Action Plans by each Stake Holder including the State Of Maharashtra. Policy envisaged that Senior Citizens are a valuable resource for the Country and to create an environment that provides them with equal opportunities, to protect their rights and to enable their full participation in Society. This Policy is not even adopted by Maharashtra even after 13 years, resulting in  Deplorable Abuse of Elders in Maharashtra in light of INPEA`s above definition! Large number of representations were made to the State Authorities for adopting and implementing the National Policy, 99 but no action is taken to implement it. There is no negotiating machinery with registered Associations of Senior Citizens, though Federation of Senior Citizens` Organizations of Maharashtra (FESCOM) is working since 1976 and now having 2000 associations affiliated to it with 900 associations in villages and more than 100 associations exclusively for women. State Council was also required to be formed. Even copies of circulars affecting Senior Citizens are not endorsed to any registered Associations!! The following issues will show as to how Elders of the State are abused by taking no action and create a dobubt as to whether such a Powerful & Prosperous STATE exists at all!!

i)                    Not adopting & not implementing National Policy, 99 even after 13 years.

ii)                Not Celebrating International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) & not giving  

 Vayoshestha Sanmans:  Nodal Ministry has issued repeated instructions to celebrate 1^st October as International Day of Older Persons (IDOP)  and sent  a list of 10 Sanmans given by them every year, which they give in celebration of IDOP. Our State is not doing anything and should give similar Sanmans at State/District/Panchayat-Municipal levels.

iii)                Integrated Programmes for Older Persons (IPOP)- Revised Scheme effective from 1-4-2008: Nodal Ministry has advised that as against National Allocation  to Maharashtra for this purpose in year 2008-09 of Rs 150 lakhs, only Rs 49.92 and against NA for 2009-10 of Rs 75 lakhs, only Rs 47.07 were released as per State Demand.  Para 6 of the Revised Scheme has made Panchayati Raj Institutions & Local Bodies as main implementing Agencies. No instructions are  issued to these agencies, resulting in no Day Care Centre, Physiotherapy Centres etc (16 schemes) for Senior Citizens in Maharashtra.

iv)                Involving Panchayati Raj Institutions & Municipalities For Welfare of Senior Citizens: Panchayati Raj Institutions (and Local Bodies) are to be encouraged to initiate & participate in all schemes of Welfare of Elders, address local level issues & needs of the ageing population and implement programmes for them. No instructions are issued  tol Local Bodies so far.

v)                  No Instructions are issued to Media, Trusts, Charitable Hospitals/State & Municipal Hospitals , NGOs , Civic Authorities, Corporate Sector etc for looking after the welfare of Elders.  No Nodal Officer at State level is nominated to deal with all representations/matters pertaining to Senior Citizens.No replies are being given to representations from Senior Citins & their Associations.

vi)                Annual Report of work done in the State for its Elders is not prepared. At present any good work done for Elders by State is not known to large number of Senior Citizens. An annual report for all work done for Elders in the State should be prepared and brought out in Media on every International Day for Older Persons. This will not only monitor various actions by all authorities but boost morale of Elders of Maharashtra.

vii)               Medical Treatment in Municipal Hospitals in Mumbai:  As per State GR no. 2006/navi-20 dt 12-12-06, free treatment is to be given to all Senior Citizens in all Municipal Hospitals.  3 major Hospitals of Nair, KEM & Sion are defying the State Orders for last 5 years and do not give free treatment to Senior Citizens inspite of G.R.

viii)         Free Movement of Rickshaws in entire MMRDA Area:  As per Notification in Extraordinary State Gazette dt 25-2-08, all Rickshaws & taxies were allowed to ply in entire MMRDA area but these orders are not yet implemented even after 4 years for rickshaws, resulting in Senior Citizens and all citizens have to walk with luggage/heavy school bags at all check nakas for change over from one side RickshawsStand  to other side Rickshaws Stand at considerable distance at Dahisar Checknaka. In Mira Road- Bhayander Area, Rickshaws are not running on meters even after giving them the rate of Rs 12 etc  and they charge exorbitant rates for even short distance

ix)                Web Site for Senior Citizens: There is no separate Web Site for Senior Citizens of Maharashtra. Present State Web Site is cumbersome and difficult to get information easily.

Policy had expected that Media will play a very important role by highlighting the changing situations of Elders and identify emerging issues and areas of action. Media was expected to promote the concept of active ageing and dispel stereo types & negative images about this last spell of life cycle. Media was expected to provide individuals, families & various groups with information and educational material, which will give better understanding of the ageing process and of ways to handle problems of old age, as they arise.

The position of Senior Citizens even after 13 years of laid down Policy is that they are abused in Family, Society and their own Country for whose freedom and present Prosperity, they had worked very hard during their working life.

Help Age India felt the need to understand the issue of elder abuse, its nature and extent of prevalence across cities, perceptions of the elderly and other stakeholders and carried out a deep study of the problem. This study having both quantitative and qualitative components was carried out by Sigma Research, based on which the report has been prepared. The fieldwork for the study was carried out during May 19-26, 2011. The study has identified the nature and extent of elder abuse and its existence and reasons for the same.

According to some of its Findings, more than two third (72%) of the elderly stay with son, while more than one tenth (13%) are living with daughter. Three fifth (60%) of the elderly consider verbal abuse as elder abuse while more than two fifth (48%) feel physical abuse constitutes elder abuse. More than two third (72%) of the elderly feel neglected sometimes while 17% feel

neglected everyday.  Feeling of being neglected stems from the family related factors such as family members not interacting and being busy in their own lives/ work. 

It is observed that higher cases of elder abuse occur among elderly after 70 years. In case of emotional abuse, mental torture was reported the most with Mumbai recording the highest (84%). ‘Speaking in loud voice’ is the highest percentage of  abuse in case of verbal abuse Abuse is reported more from the family members, with daughter in law and son emerging as the major abusers. Most (98%) of the elderly reported not filing a complaint against abuse faced. Among the elderly who registered complaint, two fifth (40%) reported that nothing concrete came out of it. One fifth of the elderly reported that as a result of the complaint, the police carried out home visit. Unwillingness to take any action against abuse stems from the perception among the elderly that - ‘it would lead to further abuse’ and ‘sense of shame in the community’.  Awareness about laws, policies and programmes against elder abuse is low among the elderly from lower socio economic strata.

It would be observed from above that many of Senior Citizens in our Country are abused by governments and family members, resulting in Increased depression, timidity, anxiety, longing for death, confusion, self-neglect, vague health problems, mounting resentment, unusual fatigue, withholding of food or medicines, hostility, unresponsiveness etc and need the help and sincere efforts by State Government and Media to get them proper treatment and facilities to create an environment that provides them with equal opportunities, to protect their rights and to enable their full participation in Society and helping them to live their last phase of life with Purpose, Dignity & Peace.

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