INDIA: Many Seniors Neglected, Robbed by Children

PARIS (Seniorscopie-Notre Temps), October 3, 2005: Children are supposed to look after their parents in their old age, just as they were looked after by their parents in childhood. But not only are they neglecting them by abandoning their elders in old age homes, they are also cornering the social money provided by the government for the welfare of the aged. India's senior citizens, staying in homes for the aged and elderly, are not only being deprived of the love and warmth of their children, they are also not getting the social support money intended for them. The children are supposed to look after their parents in their old age, just as they were looked after by their parents in childhood.But not only are they neglecting them by abandoning their elders in old age homes, they are also cornering the social money provided by the government for the welfare of the aged. Instead, the elderly are living on the donations provided by philanthropists. "Al Ettihad" newspaper, which has published facts regarding the state of elderly homes, even stated that the recent increase of 75 per cent in the social support money for the aged will not reach them. The Khaleej Times (Social support money must reach the elderly - September 20, 2005) reports that officials in charge of such homes say that people between 65 and 85 years are rarely getting any visitors. Some of them have not been visited by their relatives and family members for more than 20 years. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs should take this issue seriously and intervene, play its role to ensure that the money reaches the hands of those who deserve it. www.khaleejtimes.com