INDIA: Empathy, Adjustment Keys to Bridge Generation Gap

BHUBANESWAR (Statesman News Service), November 17, 2003: Geriatrics will soon become an area of major study across the world with its population burgeoning at 600 million by 2001 and expecting to touch 2.1 billion by 2025. In India, the population of elderly people stood at 70 million by 2001, which constituted 7.7 per cent of the total population. In Orissa, the corresponding figure is 26.5 lakh which is more than the national average. According Dr Tarapad Ray, an expert on geriatric diseases, the population of elderly persons has been on the rise. However, the government seems to be least concerned and is not taking social security measures for the elderly people, he said. Though the Central Council for Health and Family Welfare had reiterated its concern for the care and support to the senior citizens, the National Health Policy, 2002 is silent in this regard, regretted Mr Ray, pointing out that a meagre Rs 11 crore had been provided in the Union budget for the 10th Plan. However, the ministry of social justice and empowerment has earmarked Rs 104 crore for various schemes for elderly people, he said. Quoting a recent survey conducted at Kolkata, the expert said 45 per cent elderly people suffer from neuropsychiatric disorders, 33 per cent from cardiovascular disorders, 28 per cent from pulmonary disorders and 12 per cent genito-urinary disorders. The government and NGOs should come forward to take care of the elderly people and make provisions for treatment of disorders common during old age, he said. Stating that the elderly people should not be treated as liabilities in society, Dr Ray said their assets in term of knowledge and experience should be utilised properly. These issues were discussed at a workshop on geriatric problems titled Add life to age, organised here last evening by Nimitta, an NGO working for the welfare of the elderly people, and sponsored by Solus, a Ranbaxy division. Inaugurating the workshop, revenue and law minister Mr Biswa Bhusan Harichandan said that social security and care should be extended to senior citizens, who have a lot of contributions to the society. The government as well as the community should think of how to utilise their experience and wisdom, he said. Mr Harichandan listed out some of the government schemes and facilities extended to senior citizens. Director, social welfare, Mr RB Nayak said adjustment is the biggest hurdle for the elderly. They continue to think themselves important even after retirement from service. “Please shed your ego, mix with common men and adjust with your children,” he advised the gathering of elders. With the disintegration of the patriarchal joint family system and emergence of the nuclear family, the elderly are feeling isolated, said Mr Fani Bhusan Das, a retired bureaucrat and chairman of Nimitta. Stating that the generation gap is widening day by day, Mr Das appealed to the younger generations to treat the senior citizens with greater empathy.