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PURPOSE, DIGNITY AND PEACE: WHAT DO WE HAVE FOR ELDERS IN SOCIETY?
By John Eric Gomes [EMAIL PROTECTED] Porvorim Goa (Tel 2412578)
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has a National Policy which
promises to help the elders in society live the last phase of their lives
with purpose, dignity and peace. The previous government had formed a
National Council for Older Persons (NCOP) in 1999, to implement the National
Policy. This Council has met only twice in the last six years. Suffice it
to say, most people on this Council, the conference felt, are unsuited for
the job.
The National Policy visualises the following: (i) functional security (ii)
health-care and nutrition (iii) shelter (iv) education and training (v)
appropriate senior citizen concessions, rebates and discounts (vi)
strengthening legal rights of the elderly to safeguard life and property
(vii) financial assistance for the destitute and also old age homes, day
care centers, and mobile medicare units.
There is also an Annapurna Scheme of free food-grains.
The Ministry of Finance has specific concessions like exempting senior
citizens (here its for those over 65 years), from the one-by-six scheme for
filing Income Tax, rebate of Rs 15,000 or actual tax whichever is less,
another Rs 15,000 medical insurance, higher bank interest rates, and special
senior citizens savings schemes with LIC and the Post Office.
In addition, the Ministries of Railways, Civil Aviation, Road Transport,
Telecommunications are also noticing senior citizens, in line with the
national policy. The Chief Justice of India has advised the chief justices
of all high courts in the country to accord priority in cases involving
older persons.
But, as per the wider malady of our country, the usual lofty ideals
are marred in actual implementation by rules and laws, and the
hypocritical or lackadaisical attitude during implementation.
Goa recently hosted a two-day conference of The National Coordination
Committee of Associations of Senior Citizens of India (NACCASCI), and with
the opening of a premises as office in Margao, is pitch-forked onto the
national scene.
Since I was an invitee to the conference, I could informally talk to
the delegates who came from all over India. The plight of the
majority (except for only about 10% of the 77 million of our
elderly, out of these 5% who are even looking after others) is
indeed dismal.
It was possible for the writer to caution the chairman that we need
positive thinking to face the challenges of aging and not a list of
woes and demands for concessions and freebies, like is being done by
the freedom fighters after 57 years of Independence, much to the
disgust of the public!
The demographic profile of senior citizens the world over is fast changing,
in as much as people who live longer are not in ill health or invalid, and
in fact can be quite productive.
A few examples were given.
* Lord Roll of the House of Lords is the author of the classic
History of Economic Thought, and is an active, lively inquisitive 96
years old.
* Who has not heard of Alan Greenspan, now 78 years old, guiding and
directing economic policies of USA, the world's most powerful
economy for the last about 18 years.
* In India we have 105 years old Dr Chandiramani of Mumbai, who in
July 2004 was felicitated by the Maharashtra government as the
oldest working general practitioner in The Bombay Hospital.
* When C.K.Mathews retired from Atomic Research Center Kalpakkam, he
mortgaged his house to become an entrepreneur and started a new
business with just one helper. Now, at 69 years, he walks briskly,
has 25 employees and has created a Rs 50 million business.
At the Margao conference, 87-years-old Laura Dias from Vasco, got up from
her wheel chair, mounted the steps to the dais, addressed the audience with
gusto and ended singing, "You Will Never Grow Old".
These few examples should inspire those who feel life ends at 65!
Although in percentage terms, India has a senior citizens population of
only 7.7%, that is almost close to the entire population of Germany!
Incidentally while listening to World Radio Network, it was interesting to
hear that today the senior citizens in Germany are those with the most money
to spare. The young are busy working and saving, so advertising agencies are
targeting the senior group with older models. A model providing agency was
complaining that 60 year old models get sent back because they look too
young!
My cousin in Canada tells me everyone above 65 years regardless, gets
$5000 per year from the federal government, and those below the poverty line
another $5000. In the UK, a survey showed that there is a new generation
which can be called the SWELL generation -- sixty, well-off, enjoying later
life! Their only fear is ill-health and so they lead an active and balanced
diet life with good habits and no dependence either on their children,
relatives or the State.
Madhya Pradesh seems to be a very forward looking State. They were the
first to propound and implement The Sound Pollution Act. Now I understand
they have a Bill, spelling out the whole gamut of relationships: family,
progeny, single parents, bachelors and spinsters, duties of State towards
senior citizens, duties of children towards their parents/senior citizens,
education, etc.
Perhaps a code of conduct will emerge. We in India have a glorious
tradition of treating the elderly with reverence and respect.
Touching elders feet in greetings, looking after them, seeking their
blessings before important events -- which is a far cry from the
present day TV culture, work-related migration, ignoring and even
taunting the elderly, nuclear families as against joint families.
Life today is certainly more stressful and fast compared to
yesteryears.
Rough estimates suggest 10% of our senior citizens are drawing a pension,
24% live out of income generated by their life's savings, and 66% are either
near or below the poverty line. We in India have no social security for
every citizen. The Government needs to look into this profile of the elderly
very seriously. Today's young will be tomorrows senior citizens. One of the
key factors in a nations strength and humanity is the way it tackles the
demographic patterns emerging with a clear vision.
THE WRITER is a senior-citizen, who has served both in the Navy and merchant
navy, and leads an active life in the Sainik Stores cooperative venture at
Porvorim. He often writes for the local media in Goa.
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