New Delhi: In India, elders are loved and revered but the awareness of younger generation towards issues faced by the old do not get translated into actual help or assistance, says a new survey.
The survey was conducted by the Research and Advocacy Centre of Agewell Foundation.
Findings indicate that today’s generation may completely ignore or sidestep an elderly person in their own homes, either deliberately or unknowingly, due to various factors but would bend backwards to show respect to the elderly in the neighbourhood. “Whereas socially, older people are given respect but at home they are not considered important,” it said.
59.3 per cent of the people reportedly mentioned there is a contradiction in the manner people perceive older persons socially and at home.
Only 14 per cent opined that there is no such contradiction and situation of the old remains same.
Family members take their elderly family members for granted and older persons don’t want to cross the four walls.
Almost a fourth of the respondents agreed that respect for the elderly is missing at home. Almost half the respondents from all age groups (50.3 per cent) said that in their opinion, older persons are respected within their families.
For the survey a representative sample of 32,100 people from different age groups acros the country were interviewed on phone, through Internet and with personal interaction.
The survey was conducted in July and August this year. The report has been brought out to coincide with the fourth Open Ended Working Group Conference on Old Age and Human Rights at United Nations.
“Since it addresses an issue which directly touches every one’s life, we believe it would would be useful for large number of old people,” says Himanshu Rath , Agewell Foundation.
Meanwhile, a little less than half of those surveyed believed that discrimination against the elderly at workplace does exist. Older persons face discrimination due to their age at the workplace according to almost half the respondents. Promotions are curtailed or tasks reassigned. The survey found out that 84.9 per cent people accept the fact that older persons are productive even after retirement.
A section of people also felt that discrimination at the workplace may not be due to age alone and it could be dependent on various other factors. “Almost one fourth of the respondents don’t prefer a young supervisor compared to an elder one. They would choose an elder supervisor given the choice,” the survey says. MORE
According to 73.5 per cent respondents (48.4 per cent agree and 25.1 per cent strongly agree) that older women are entirely dependent on family support for sustenance as they have no or minimal income.
Only 3.2 per cent respondents contradict the view that older women are dependent on family. A total of 57.3 per cent of people admitted that they have seen older persons being abused either emotionally or physically.
Only 27.1 per cent people said that older persons are genuinely revered in the family or society and do not face any abuse. And 3.9 per cent respondents claimed that old people are most revered family members while 23.2 per cent people witnessed old people being respected in old age. “A majority of older persons have a sense of insecurity in old age, which the survey concludes is due to a break up of joint family system,” says the survey.
About half of the respondents, 49.5 per cent, admitted that local police is not sensitive towards them and their issues. “Most respondents were ignorant of existing legal provisions for the elderly. While some legislation exists for safeguarding the rights of the elderly, not too many people are aware of them. And while on paper certain provisions are available, in a traditional society like India, most cases pertaining to the elderly go unreported and never reach a formal legal space for resolution.” said the study.
Only 5 per cent of the respondents admitted that in India the law is strong and ensures a secure old age for all. Another 8.2 per cent said that “they can say our law is strong enough to protect older persons and safeguard their rights.” 54.4 per cent reportedly said that the government or society does not support older person’s right to earn income to a large extent.
According to them, government policies and social norms are not at par as far as the financial security in old age is concerned. The study says incidences of violation of human rights and elder abuse are increasing.
“Cases of elder abuse in India on rise in India on rise but people hardly complain about them,” it says. “Government policies and our social norms are not at par so far as social security in old age is concerned.
In India situation of social security schemes is very depressing. Government should focus on social security schemes keeping in view of fast increasing population of older persons. “At the same time, there should be some arrangements in the society so that older persons can lead a untroubled life in old age,” the survey concludes.
In terms of abuse 57.3 per cent people admitted that they have seen older persons being abused either emotionally or physically. (PTI)